Two men who attempted to con an elderly woman in Godstone out of £8,000 for garden work in Godstone have been sent to prison for eight months.
24-year-old Kieran Ryan of Camberley, and 19-year-old Jasper Smith of Caterham were handed the sentences at Guildford Crown Court today (Tuesday 2 September), having pleaded guilty to a charge each of fraud in June.
In January, Ryan and Smith visited a woman in her 90s at her home in Godstone and asked for £8,000 in cash following a small amount of gardening work they had carried out in the days beforehand.
However they were thwarted after bank staff reported the unusual withdrawal to police that she tried to make on February 1. Officers went to her home later that day and stopped the duo as they attempted to drive off.
As well as not losing her money thanks to the quick-thinking bank staff, a local tree care company came forward and offered to carry out her garden work for free.
Investigating officer PC Gemma Taylor said: "This was a cold and calculated act by the two men who spotted an opportunity to deceive an elderly woman out of a large sum of money.
"Fortunately they did not get away with it thanks to the eagled-eyed staff at the victim's bank who quickly made us aware of what was happening. It was also a kind act by Connick Tree Care to step in and carry out the work in her garden for free."
