A fraudster who was featured on an ITV crime show posed as a courier to pick on a vulnerable pensioner.

Now Benjamin Lee, of Flanagan Avenue, Rushenden, has been handed a 16-month stint at a young offender's institute after stealing £14,000 from an 85-year-old.

Knowing the Gillingham woman had already been targeted by rogue traders, an unknown cold caller attended her house on July 18 pretending to be a policeman.

He told her she could be entitled to compensation in relation to these previous offences. At the same time the victim received a phone call from another man who instructed her she needed to pay ‘court fees’ as part of an investigation, promising she would receive the compensation once the case was concluded.

Lee, 18, then arrived acting as a courier, taking £600 from the victim before instructing her to drive to a Chatham bank to withdraw another £2,400.

The bogus police calls continued the next day and - when the victim refused to pay more - she was threatened with arrest.

Lee then returned to her home and directed her to drive to several locations to make cash withdrawals, including a post office, bureau de change and a bank in Strood.

Her bank tipped off police to suspicious activity, prompting a successful CCTV appeal.

Another victim recognised him as someone who had visited her home between August and September, during which time he was paid several thousand pounds for landscaping works that were never carried out.

Lee was arrested on November 8 and charged with two counts of fraud by false representation. Appearing before Maidstone Crown Court he pleaded guilty to both offences.

On Tuesday, January 14 he was sentenced to 16 months’ imprisonment at a young offenders’ institution.

Following the sentence, police made an application for a confiscation order under The Proceeds of Crime Act. This will be used to claim back any money that Lee has benefited from his offences.

Sergeant Marc Cananur of the Serious Economic Crime Unit said: "Lee was involved in a callous scam which very deliberately targeted an elderly and vulnerable woman.

"He used the knowledge of previous crimes carried out against her to ensure she suffered even further misery and distress, stealing a total of almost £14,000. The impact of this type of crime cannot be understated. It is simply devastating to victims, who have not only suffered a significant financial loss, but also have to endure the stress and upset of being targeted in such a shocking way.

"Remember, a police force will never ask a member of the public for money or any of their bank details, either over the phone or in person.

"If you receive a phone call like this, or have any doubts about a person visiting your home always call 999."

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