Leicester woman conned OAP out of £4k

A saleswoman conned an 84-year-old woman out of thousands of pounds.

Rajbir Sangha, of Barnes Close, Rushey Mead, Leicester, persuaded the woman, who has dementia, to give her almost £4,000.

Nottinghamshire Police said yesterday that the scale of the fraud could have been greater if the victim's son had not intervened.

Sangha, who worked for a firm which sells mattresses and soft furnishings, first targeted her victim at her home in Edwalton, Nottinghamshire, in May last year.

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Nottingham Crown Court heard that the 57-year-old persuaded the woman to buy two massage cushions for a total of £960 when their true price was £120.

The court heard that Sangha returned to the woman's home and eventually persuaded her to give her a further £3,000.

Sangha told police the money was payment for a pair of diamond and ruby earrings – although officers could find no trace of the jewellery.

Sangha's crimes came to light when the victim's son noticed that large amounts of cash had been taken from her account and found stubs in his mother's cheque book which revealed payments made to Sangha.

He obtained power of attorney over her bank account and cancelled a further two cheques for £1,500 made to Sangha.

He also contacted police and trading standards.

Sangha was detained and later pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud. She appeared at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday.

She was given a four-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and a 12-month supervision order.

She must pay £960 compensation and £350 costs.

Detective Constable Simon Pearson, of West Bridgford CID, said Sangha preyed on a trusting, defenceless victim.

He said: "Sangha displayed an appalling breach of trust when she exploited a vulnerable elderly lady for a vast profit.

"She took thousands of pounds from her and capitalised on her dementia and helplessness for financial gain, which is utterly despicable and inexcusable.

"Sangha's conviction shows that police will work with their partners, in this case trading standards, to apprehend and prosecute those who exploit vulnerable victims."