Fraudster stole from the elderly

7:00am Sunday 31st August 2008

A MAN claimed his daughter was dying of cancer and posed as his twin brother in order to steal money from elderly people.

Jonathan Johns, of Drovers Way, Droitwich Spa, conned members of the public into giving him cash, telling them he needed money for petrol, but really spending it on food. More than once, he pretended to be his twin brother, a well-known fishmonger.

“It seems to me you are a man who is prepared to say anything to get what you want.”

Deputy district judge Michael James

At Worcester magistrates court on Wednesday, August 27, the 49-year-old admitted three charges of fraud through false representation.

Sentencing him, deputy district judge Michael James described his actions as the “most appalling behaviour” and said “Pretending you had a sick child to visit is just about as low as a man can get.”

One victim was an 84-year-old man from Honeybourne, near Evesham, who had known the Johns family for 40 years.

First, he gave Johns £10 for petrol then, on Monday, May 26, handed over another £20 after Johns claimed his car had been stolen and he needed a taxi.

Further lies were told to the second victim, aged 74. Johns, posing as his twin brother Simon, claimed he had run out of petrol and needed £20 to buy some.

Then, on Thursday, June 26, Johns went to a stranger’s house, claimed to be the local fishmonger and that he needed £30 to visit his daughter who was dying of cancer.

Julie Rosamond, prosecuting, said Johns had lied on every occasion.

“He admitted lying about his daughter and spent the stolen money on food.”

According to Nick Roberts, defending, Johns’ problems started when he lost his job, became homeless and had his benefits suspended.

“He tells me things are looking better,” said Mr Roberts.

“He has self-referred to Turning Point (drug referral team) and enrolled in an Open University course in civil engineering. I can say, on his behalf, that he is thoroughly ashamed of what he did.”

Sentencing him to six months in jail, suspended for 12 months, the judge said: “I hope it reflects the revulsion that right thinking people would feel about your behaviour.

“It seems to me you are a man who is prepared to say anything to get what you want.”

Johns was also ordered to pay £120 compensation, £60 court costs, to carry out 60 hours of unpaid work in the community and complete a drug rehabilitation requirement.

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