Moment con man thought he was getting out of prison before being arrested at the gate

A con man was arrested just moments after leaving prison for stealing nearly £15,000 from a pensioner.

Amos Smith, 47, from Gillingham, used a false name when carrying out ground clearance at the victim’s home in Twydall from May until June last year.

Initially, Smith had charged the homeowner, who was in his 70s, £11,000 for the work, which included removing trees and rubbish.

However, a month after the job had been completed, Smith went to the victim’s address to say that he owed more money.

The 47-year-old told the man to walk with him to a local shop to withdraw cash on five separate days in August while Smith watched.

In total, roughly £15,000 was handed over by his victim.

Smith, who was serving a sentence for similar offenses, was arrested on April 14 this year as he left prison.

The 47-year-old was charged with two counts of fraud by false representation, which he admitted to at Maidstone Magistrates Court on June 29.

At the same hearing, he was then jailed for two years and eight months.

Detective Constable James Finch said: ‘Smith took advantage of a vulnerable member of our community and arrogantly thought he could get away with it.

‘The persistence with which he approached his victim shows he had a lack of remorse or reflection regarding his actions, which have left the man more anxious and hugely out of pocket.

‘We are satisfied he is behind bars and we hope that by getting his name and image out in public, others will avoid falling victim to this conman.’