A FRAUDSTER who tried to con an elderly woman by telling her he could recover cash lost in an earlier scam has been jailed for four years.

On February 2 Jason Vinter knocked on the door of the Barnet home of the woman, who is in her 90s, telling her his name was Billy.

He said he could recoup some of £87,000 she lost from a 2008 building fraud, but told her he needed cash up front to help pay legal fees, and she handed over £4,600 to him over the next week.

Police were alerted after bank staff told her it was probably a scam when the woman tried to raise a loan to pay Vinter the rest of the cash he had asked for.

She arranged another meeting with "Billy", but when she invited him in he was arrested by waiting officers, who subsequently discovered his real identity.

In interview Vinter told officers he was collecting the money on behalf of a friend who said he was owed the cash for building work.

But last Wednesday at Wood Green Crown Court Vinter, 41, who lives on a caravan park in Hertfordshire, pleaded guilty to fraud.

Detective Constable Steve Aggrey of Barnet CID said: “This was a despicable fraud perpetrated against an elderly and vulnerable woman. Vinter exploited that fact that she had previously been a victim to victimise her once again.

“There are those who see the elderly, not as people to be helped, but as an opportunity to be exploited. People who carry out such vile crimes deserve a long prison sentence.

“This crime was detected by concerned staff at the Nationwide bank and by some good police work by PC Jamie Fowler the arresting officer. I would urge those of you who have elderly relatives or neighbours to be vigilant on their behalf.”