A cunning conman has been jailed for two years for cheating a disabled Thanet man out of £23,500.

Richard O’Connell, 47, was said to have used the skills he acquired as a salesman to persuade Keith Martina, 63, to hand over the money.

His victim had suffered strokes and paralysis and had limited mobility and communication. He believed the money was being used to start a business.

But the conman was bankrupt - and not a penny of the money was repaid.

O’Donnell, of Links Cottages, Skegness, was told by Mr Recorder Popat at Canterbury Crown Court: “It was a well planned and cunningly contrived enterprise executed with skill.”

Lucy Luttman, prosecuting, said the victim met O’Connell when he was rennovating a property near his home. A friendship developed.

She said Mr Martina ended up lending him money, thinking it was being used to start up a kitchen business.

But just before Christmas 2007, after arranging to meet his victim at a bank, O’Connell confessed that he didn’t have any money.

Mr Martina kept it secret until he became so ill he broke down in tears and told his carer. Police were called in.

Miss Luttman said O’Connell had been made bankrupt in 2005 and there was very little chance of Mr Martina being repaid.

Kerry Waitt, for O’Connell, said he had led a blameless and industrious life until his business collapsed.

Mr Recorder Popat said the kitchen business was a complete hoax and he had defrauded the victim of a substantial sum leaving him distressed and upset.