A 25 year old Cirencester man who befriended a vulnerable pensioner and then defrauded him of nearly £5,000 was jailed for two years.

Benjamin Savory of Melrose Gardens, admitted fraud by false representation between 19th August and 29th September last year.

He 'borrowed' £4,950 from 74 year old Geoffrey Trotman, promising to pay it back to the 'vulnerable' man but never did, said prosecutor Neil Treharne at Gloucester crown court.

Judge Jason Taylor QC noted that Savory would accompany Mr Trotman to cashpoints and once his victim had entered the card and pin number he would take over.

Mr Treharne said that was right, and that withdrawals were made from Mr Trotman's account on a daily basis.

"Quite often he would take him to ATMs that were not covered by CCTV," the barrister told the judge. "We say that is deliberate."

Mr Treharne said Savory met Mr Trotman when he was 'cycling in the Kingshill area of Cirencester'.

Savory (pictured right) offered to do some gardening, started to cut the hedge, but never finished the work.

Mr Trotman made daily withdrawals from his account between 20th August and 20th September.

The prosecutor said this 'suggested it was given to this defendant, and was used by him to fund his drug habit.'

Mr Treharne said Savory's victim 'felt sorry for him' as he heard various reasons for the requests of money such as needing business cards, being homeless, having a young child.

On 28th September a police community support officer saw Savory getting into Mr Trotman's car, and was concerned he was being taken advantage of, knowing the history of the defendant.

Mr Trotman later spoke to the police and he confirmed Savory had befriended him.

"He was suckered into giving the money across to him with the promise it would be paid back, it never was," the prosecutor said.

"He received nothing in return for the money he gave across."

When Savory was arrested he told the police he offered gardening work, but had not finished because he needed stronger hedge cutters.

The court heard Savory said he worked 3 hours on one day and then 5 hours another day.

He told the police he worked for about £80, but then borrowed money and spent it on drugs and food.

The court heard that Savory had thirty previous convictions for fifty seven offences.

Judge Taylor noted that Savory was still on licence having been released from prison for a previous offence of fraud when he committed this latest crime.

Mr Treharne confirmed that was right and said Savory used 'the same sort of modus operandi in the last case at this court'.

Defence lawyer, Greg Gordon, representing Savory said his client did not accept that he had defrauded Mr Trotman of £4,950 arguing it was closer to £3,000.

"He was attempting to work," the barrister said. "It is difficult for someone in his position to find work, a homeless drug addict."

"He was cycling around looking for work and then fell into a pattern that was all too easy," Mr Gordon said, "but we do not say he was actively targetting him."

"He did not target him. He did do some gardening. He did not do an awful lot.

"He did what he could trying to find legitimate work. Mr Trotman gave him that work.

"It was a friendly relationship. There was no threat, no pressure. He took advantage when it was available.

"It was absolutely the case that on the last occasions that he did target those people. But this time he made efforts to do something different.

"He does not have the will to do something different."

Mr Gordon referred the judge to a note that Savory had written to Mr Trotman asking him to not lend him any more money, but accepted that he did request further cash after that was written.

"The note was a genuine attempt to stop him lending him any more money," Mr Gordon said.

"Or it could have been very manipulative," Judge Taylor said. "That is a cynical perspective.

"I will not form that view but I can see how the prosecutor could have put that view forward in a trial."

"He is a straightforward man," Mr Gordon replied. "He was struggling with drugs. He was struggling with what he was doing to Mr Trotman. It was an attempt to stop it.

"He has expressed genuine remorse and a desire to pay him back, but it seems very unlikely Mr Trotman will ever get his money back."

Jailing Savory for two years, the judge told him: "If you prey on elderly people you do so at your own peril.

"You in my view targetted a retired elderly male of 74 years in order to obtain money from him.

"You make it plain that you did do some work, but a pattern developed of you borrowing money saying you would pay it back without being able to.

"The victim required a level of support and had a difficulty understanding what happened and what was happening.

"You took him to ATM's almost daily. Once he had put the card and pin in you took over.

"You took advantage of his age, his desire for company, and his sympathy for your position.

"Either way whether it is £3,000 or £4,950 it is persistent and sustained offending

"I find it hard to gauge and assess your remorse, as this is not the first time you have targetted vulnerable people.

"You have an unenviable list of convictions for the age of 25.

"You were on licence when you committed the current offence. That is a significant aggravating feature.

"I hope you use this time to reflect, and you do not put yourself in the same situation," the judge concluded.

A restraining order was also imposed to prevent Savory contacting Mr Trotman.