87 Year-Old Widow Conned: Accused In Court

A Bognor Regis man, accused of conning an 87 year-old widow out of £15,300, appeared for the first time at Wimbledon Magistrates Court yesterday.

Paul Welch, 55, of Shearwater Drive, is charged with fraud by false representation, namely dishonestly representing to Lloyds Bank on April 10 that he was entitled to withdraw the cash sum from his account.

The victim, who lives alone and had been previously scammed, was contacted by a 'Graham Sutton' who posed as a Trading Standards official informing her she was entitled to a share of £37,500 compensation.

She was convinced to transfer half of the pending award from her account to another bank account and Welch allegedly withdrew the money in cash the next day.

Welch was bailed to appear at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court for a preliminary hearing on August 7.