A “greedy” money-launderer who helped rip off 16 vulnerable people during the Covid-19 lockdown, including a 95-year-old and a recovering cancer patient, has been jailed.

Luke Barling, 49, laundered around £350,000 of his victims cash through a series of bank accounts.

Prosecutor Viv Walters told how the frauds took place during the first coronavirus lockdown in March 2020 and the con’s targets were some of "the most vulnerable" individuals.

"Many different types of fraud were used. Most victims thought they were making safe investments in ISAs and savings accounts,” she explained.

"They were unaware the fraudsters were using clones of legitimate companies."

She added: “One was a victim of rogue trading and others, who had been previous victims of fraud, were scammed into making payments to sell diamonds, shares or land they owned.

Ms Walters told Maidstone Crown Court: "It is not possible to say exactly to what extent the defendant profited from running these accounts.

"Much of the money was withdrawn in cash or transferred to his personal account and then withdrawn."

Police were also able to link Barling, of Blenheim Road, Sittingbourne, to a Breitling watch costing more than £2,000 and a £550 gold chain.

The prosecutor said Barling set up a company in the name of LB Property Services.

‘He should still be thoroughly ashamed of himself for his connection to the crimes committed...’

She continued: "The banking documentation shows that the account was opened via a face-to-face interview by the defendant who produced a copy of his photo provisional driving licence as identification and gave his home address, mobile number and personal email as contact details.”

Ms Walters said the defendant told victim his business would “involve in buying large land plots with derelict properties,” before doing renovations and selling them on.

He boasted that his annual turnover would be £500,000.

But the prosectuor said by the end of April 2020, the accounts were suspended by the bank.

Although a second business bank account was opened with Tide Bank which enabled the fraud to continue and for more victims to send money.

Many of the victims were elderly including a 95-year-old man who has since died.

An 89-year-old man was tricked into paying around £24,000 in so-called insurance fees.

A third man, 76, was targeted by rogue traders who charged him a total of more than £23,000 for carrying out unnecessary repairs to his roof.

While a 65-year-old man who was recovering from cancer treatment lost more than £9,000 due to a scam relating to the sale of diamonds. His health also deteriorated as a result.

"Some individuals lost their life savings and more than £100,000 of the money has not been reimbursed by the banks and has been lost personally by the victims," she added.

The court heard how Barling has a long history of convictions for offences of dishonesty.

He was imprisoned for a total of four years and eight months in 2010 for attempted robbery, assault and fraud.

Barling admitted three charges of money-laundering and received a 33-month jail sentence.

Judge Philip Statman told him he found it "heartbreaking” that the criminal had targeted vulnerable people because he was "a greedy criminal”.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Roger Harris said: “Luke Barling was essentially acting as a treasurer for other criminals by allowing them to pay illegally-earned funds into his bank accounts in exchange for a share of the proceeds. Whilst there is nothing to suggest he targeted the victims in this case himself, he should still be thoroughly ashamed of himself for his connection to the crimes committed.

“Those responsible took advantage of people who were largely elderly and vulnerable, many of whom handed over their life’s savings in good faith. Whilst a number of victims were able to recover the money they had lost including some with our assistance, others have been permanently deprived of vast quantities of money at a time when they are entitled to be enjoying their later years.

“The consequences of the crimes committed will have a long-lasting impact on the victims so it is only fair that Barling should have to take responsibility for his own actions by spending a significant amount of time behind bars.”