Scumbag Targeted 91 Year-Old Pensioner's Life-Savings

A greedy heartless fraudster, who stole £90,000 from an OAP with help from an elderly stand-in, has been jailed.

Justin Sewell, 43, of Beulah Road, Thornton Heath transferred the majority of the victim's life savings to himself after convincing bank staff to add him to her account.

He was assisted at the NatWest branch by a woman posing as the victim and she continues to be hunted by police.

Sewell pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to two counts of fraud and received 33 months imprisonment.

The court heard that on Wednesday, March 1, Sewell - who was not known to the victim - managed to have his name added to the 91-year-old pensioner's savings account.

On that day he attended the bank with an unknown woman who pretended to be the victim and they fraudulently completed the relevant paperwork to have Sewell's name added to the account.

On March 9, Sewell transferred £50,000 from the victim's account to his own and the following day, March 10 transferred a further £40,000.

On March 15, he was in a NatWest bank in Croydon when staff alerted police to his request to make a further withdrawal.

He was arrested by officers from Croydon that day and during this arrest he was found to be in possession of cannabis.

Detective Constable Sam Bennett from Croydon CID, said: "This was a deceitful crime in which Sewell stole a significant sum of money from an elderly lady's bank account.

"A swift police investigation established that Sewell had withdrawn two large sums and was seeking a third withdrawal when he was caught.

"Anyone who believes they have been a victim of fraud should call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040."

The woman who accompanied Sewell on his first visit to the bank has not been traced and anyone with information should contact police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.