A fraudster tricked pensioners into handing more than £17,000 after claiming he was working for the police's crime prevention team.

And the lawyer for conman Harry Beacock, 21, asked for his sentence to be postponed until after his wife gave birth.

But Judge Catherine Brown turned down his delaying plea telling him: “No, your 86-year-old victims have waited long enough for justice."

Beacock, formerly of Love Lane, Faversham and now of Lenham Road, Ashford, was then jailed for three years and four months for his fraud.

Prosecutor Dickon Reid told Canterbury Crown Court how Beacock had targeted two 86-year-olds, claiming he was “John” and represented the council and the police’s crime prevention department.

He hoodwinked his victims into believing their Broadstairs home had been under surveillance by thieves and talked the pensioners into handing over £5,000 for CCTV equipment.

Then Beacock returned, claiming they also needed two safes, then smart water used in tracking crooks, then more money for installation and VAT.

Mr Reid said it was only when he returned for more money – telling his victims not to tell the bank why the cash was being withdrawn – that they became suspicious.

They called police and one told officers that “John” was becoming greedy and when Beacock returned, officers were waiting to nab him.

The prosecutor said that the fraudster then claimed he was the gardener and was just negotiating work.

But when officers checked his phone they discovered some of the money had been used to buy a £22,500 van.

Beacock had been released early from 45-month jail sentence for robbery in 2015 and had committed the fraud while on licence.

Defence barrister Charlotte O’Connor said Beacock’s wife was expecting their second child in January and asked if the judge could postpone sentence so he could be at the birth.

But Judge Brown said he had deliberately targeted his elderly victims, who could ill afford to lose the money.