Wirral's independent local news website
A fraudster who stole over £36,000 from a pensioner has today, Friday 2 September, been jailed for five years and three months.
Andrew Evans, 55, of no fixed abode, but formerly of West Kirby, called at the home of the man, now in his 80s, pretending to be a self-employed campervan salesman who was still employed by a legitimate firm that the pensioner had previously dealt with.
He told the pensioner that he could get him a new camper van for £38,000 with £13,000 cashback and a deal was agreed.
Between July 2020 and March 2022 he emptied the pensioner’s bank account of approximately £36,750 by taking his victim the bank to withdraw money over 150 times.
He also attempted to apply for a loan in the pensioner’s name and took him to Cash Convertors on several occasions to sell high-value items including a telescope and binoculars, for which he pocketed the money.
On 14 March this year staff at a branch of Santander in Wirral raised concern over bank transactions being made by the pensioner, who was in the company of Evans, and police attended the bank.
After being arrested Evans admitted stealing the money and he pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation.
He today appeared in court to be sentenced for four separate offences, including three in Cheshire, and jailed for a total of five years and three months.
Detective Constable Kevin Reppion said, “This was a particularly nasty and callous crime.
“Evans gained the trust of his victim by pretending to be something he wasn’t and lied to him for nearly two years by making him believe he was ‘selling’ him a non-existent camper van.
“He even went as far as attempting to apply for a loan and selling his possessions to pocket the cash.
“This was the ultimate breach of trust and I hope that the victim will be able to move on from this now Evans is behind bars and his actions made public. Furthermore Santander have agreed to reimburse Evan’s victim £36,750 as they recognise his vulnerability.
“I would encourage anyone who feels they are being pressured into any financial transactions to ask a family member of simply say ‘can i get some advice first?’
“If you or someone you know who is a vulnerable person has been a victim of fraud please contact us so that we can take immediate action.”
Action Fraud is the UK’s national fraud and cybercrime reporting centre. If you believe you have been a victim of fraud you can contact them on 0300 123 2040 or go to www.actionfraud.police.uk
Advice and information about fraud is also available via https://www.merseyside.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/fa/fraud/
Merseyside Police can also be contacted via @MerPolCC or by calling 101. Contact @CrimestoppersUK on 0800 555 111.
Image: Andrew Evans – Merseyside Police
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