Burntwood Man Jailed For Defrauding Elderly Woman
13 July 2019, 06:12
A Burntwood man has been jailed for defrauding an elderly woman out of thousands of pounds.
68-year-old David Cope was sentenced to a total of 32 months at Stafford Crown Court after he pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation and theft at an earlier hearing.
He was sentenced to 16 months for fraud, with 16 months for theft to be served concurrently.
In a separate matter Cope was sentenced to a further 16 months for sexual offences.
He pleaded guilty to causing a child to watch or look at an image of sexual activity and two further counts of attempting to cause a child to watch or look at an image of sexual activity. These offences were committed between in 2016.
The court heard that Cope, of Bells Lane, Boney Hay, had been entrusted with an elderly woman’s bank card to assist with purchasing small items such as sweets when she went into a care home.
During a 12-month period Cope spent around £12,000 belonging to his victim. He withdrew £6,000 from ATMs, leaving his victim with no money.
Cope pleaded guilty in June. The victim’s bank have repaid the stolen money to her.
PC Tom Sheldon, of Staffordshire Police, said: “We are glad Cope has been sentenced for his actions and, in the case of the fraud, grateful monies have been returned to his victim.”
