AN elderly victim was conned out of £7,200 by a man who filled holes on his property.
Cyril John Rees, then aged 79, was approached by three men at his farmhouse, outside of Tycroes who asked if they could store equipment there while they completed work nearby.
Mr Rees agreed, and later saw them filling holes on the drive leading to his home. He became suspicious but presumed they had asphalt left over from their work.
Mr Rees went to visit a friend, but when he returned, 23-year-old Johnny Carroll, from Inter Valley Road in Banwen, was waiting with another man and they told Mr Rees there was an outstanding bill of around £10,000 for the work.
Mr Rees said he felt pressured into handing over money. Carroll later made the bill £7,200 and went with Mr Rees to the bank so he could withdraw the money.
When a surveyor assessed the work he said it was not only of a poor quality, but should only have cost £800.
Carroll, who had no previous convictions, has now repaid Mr Rees the money. He admitted a count of fraud at Swansea Crown Court.
Huw Rees, for Carroll, said his client was a hard- working family man.
Judge Peter Heywood said: "It was an extremely mean fraud, carried out on a vulnerable elderly man."
He added: "This clearly passes the custody threshold but you're 23, you're of previous good character and I am sure you were involved with others who were far more involved and devious than you were.
"You, to some extent, were the mug who has been left to carry the can.
He told Rees he will receive a 16-week sentence, suspended for 18 months. He will have to pay £250 in costs and complete 240 hours of unpaid work.
