Ashford Fraudster Jailed for Targeting Vulnerable Pensioner’s £188k Savings
A conman from Ashford has been locked up for four years after trying to nick nearly £200,000 from a vulnerable pensioner living in a care home.
Cold-Hearted Scam Exposed at Local Bank
Colin Fox, 43, exploited a friend of the victim to get his hands on the frail 86-year-old’s personal and banking details. In March 2018, Fox made several attempts to transfer a whopping £188,397 from the pensioner’s account into his own.
The bank flagged the suspicious transactions and froze the money. Not giving up, Fox showed up at the Ashford bank branch on March 28, 2018, with an elderly accomplice posing as the victim. Fox begged the staff, saying it was to buy designer watches for his “grandfather”.
Bank Staff Foil Ruthless Plot
Sharp-eyed bank workers raised security questions and soon alerted the police. The investigation revealed the victim was too unwell to leave his care home, let alone visit a bank. Fox was arrested in September 2019, though his dodgy “grandfather” sidekick remains unknown.
Justice Served as Fox Admits Fraud and Sentenced
At Maidstone Crown Court on August 13, 2021, Fox pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation and was handed a four-year prison sentence.
“Fox’s actions in visiting the bank pretending to be with his grandfather show his ruthless determination to steal every penny,” said Detective Constable Mark Collins. “Thankfully, the bank’s vigilance stopped him profiting from this scam. It’s a relief justice has now been served.”
Sadly, the victim, Henry Cook, passed away before the case concluded. He was aware of the fraud and reportedly suffered great distress over the betrayal of his life savings.
