A fraudster who preyed on the kindness of strangers has been jailed.

David Bateman, of Shakespeare Road, Sittingbourne, was sentenced to 360 days after admitting five counts of fraud by false representation.

The court heard how the swindler had approached people in the town centre on four occasions and begged for money claiming he needed to get to London to see his mum who had been in a car accident.

The first incident took place on December 2, when he ran up to a 39-year-old a woman in East Street crying and in a distressed state.

After saying his name was Mark and telling her his sob story, he then asked for £35 to get the train.

She refused but as Bateman continued crying, she relented and took him back to her home to give him £25 cash.

He then stated it was not enough and asked for a further £10 before changing his mind and saying he needed another £20 or £30.

The lady tried to get cashback at a nearby shop but, due to a system error, was unable to complete the transaction. Just before walking off, she saw him approach another person.

Three days later, the fraudster told two other members of the public the same story about his mother, adding that he was locked out of his house and could not get any of his money.

Neither fell for his trick, with one recognising him as the same man who had flagged him down several months earlier with a sob story about his girlfriend being in labour.

On December 15, he fed another pack of lies to a man in Aldi’s car park, even pretending to ring his father and have a conversation about how he was desperately trying to get to the hospital.

In the end, the victim agreed to give him £30. Then, on February 19, he approached a man sitting in his car in West Lane and told him the same story.

After giving him £20 he agreed to drive him to what Bateman claimed was his mother’s house to pick up some of her belongings.

On the way, he managed to coerce another £20 out of the driver after he claimed it was not enough. Officers arrested Bateman on February 28.

He appeared before Maidstone Magistrates’ Court on March 1. PC Michelle Rose said: “Bateman expertly played to his audience by tugging on the heartstrings of kind passers-by who did not want to leave him in distress.

“While we always like to see community spirit alive and well, we don’t want residents to be duped. I’d advise members of the public to exercise caution in situations like this.”