Cruel crook duped frail victim out of hard-earned pension - two weeks after release from prison for the SAME THING

A callous fraudster demanded cash from a 'frail' man with a false promise to clear his guttering - just over two weeks after being released from prison for the same crime.

Wearing a high-vis vest and claiming to be a professional, John Ward turned up to his victim's Bolton home and claimed he would do the work on three occasions, Bolton Crown Court heard. The 27-year-old, from Longsight, swindled £50 from the pensioner and tried to con him out of another £60 in total.

But carrying a blue suitcase on his way to the dock on Wednesday (March 16), Ward knew his 'mean-spirited' operation had fallen apart, and with a fist bump from his brother through the glass he was jailed for 21 months.

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Prosecuting, Peter Gilmour told the court that Ward knocked on the door of his elderly Bolton victim last March 5 and claimed he would clear his guttering - suggesting it was causing issues for his neighbour.

The pensioner gave Ward the £50 he demanded, but the conman failed to carry out the work. After speaking to the neighbour who Ward claimed was suffering due to the guttering needing clearing, his victim realised he was being duped.

The court heard Ward returned to his home on March 8 last year and again on April 2, each time demanding £30 to carry out the task, but on both occasions the pensioner said he did not have the money and sent him on his way.

Mr Gilmour said: "[The victim] uses a zimmer frame and suffers various medical issues. He's visited several times a day by carers and nurses.

"He has grab rails installed and it's obvious to anyone passing the