Cruel scamster admits conning vulnerable pensioner out of almost £90,000

Report by Duncan Williams for Pulman's Weekly News

An East Devon man has admitted defrauding a vulnerable 80-year-old woman out of almost £90,000 after falsely claiming work was needed at her home and persuading her to write him cheques.

Robert Fordham, 54, of Lyme Road in Axminster, pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud by false representation at a recent court hearing. The offences took place between December 2023 and November 2024.

The case was brought before the courts under the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Criminal Justice Court Reporting Scheme.

Prosecutor Warjinder Baines told the court the victim, who has severely impaired eyesight and other vulnerabilities, was initially introduced to Fordham by her social worker to carry out landscaping work at her property.

Fordham was paid by cheque for the agreed work. However, the court heard that he later returned to the woman’s home when her social worker was not present, falsely claiming that further work was required.

On a number of occasions, the pensioner either wrote Fordham cheques herself or he completed them on her behalf. He also returned claiming that some of the cheques had bounced, persuading her to make further payments.

The fraud continued until November 2024, when the woman’s social worker uncovered the deception.

In total, Fordham admitted fraudulently obtaining £89,523 from the victim.

The court also heard that Fordham has previous convictions dating back more than a decade, including offences of theft and deception.

District Judge Smith committed the case to Exeter Crown Court for sentencing. Fordham is due to appear before the court on 29th July and was granted unconditional bail.