Conman targeted elderly

DANIEL MATHER

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A CONMAN with a history of targeting the vulnerable and elderly has been jailed for nearly four years.

Daniel Mather (32), of Longfellow Crescent, Oldham, was sentenced to 42 months in prison at Minshull Street Crown Court on Friday (20).

Mather was charged with three counts of fraud and three counts of theft.

The defendant initially pleaded guilty to the three theft charges and not guilty to the three fraud charges, but later changed his plea to guilty to all six charges brought against him. He was also ordered to pay costs of £120.

Paul Wood, a joiner from Salem, contacted the Chronicle as his late mother-in-law Brenda Atherton was one of Mather's victims in 2015.

Mr Wood believes Ms Atherton (86), of Quail Street, Salem, was targeted because she had dementia and was vulnerable.

He said: "She was just an easy target for him. He was coming in her house and taking money. She thought he was a window cleaner. "Hundreds of pounds were going missing from her every week. We couldn't work out what was happening. We called the police and they caught him pretty quickly.

"As soon as she found out she was being robbed she became very frightened. She stopped eating, she kept hold of her purse pretty right.

"The hospital said trauma can make dementia worse. My wife believes she would have had a few more years if it was not for the fact that she went through that trauma."

In September, 2013, Mather was jailed for two years for stealing more than £1,000 from 10 victims over six months.

One of his victims was an 82-year old woman suffering from terminal cancer and dementia. He took £750 from another pensioner, who trusted him enough to give him her bank card and PIN.

In December, 2009, he pleaded guilty to fraud and was given a suspended 18-week prison sentence.

The court heard that Mather betrayed the trust of a 78-year-old woman and used her life savings to pay bills.

His victim handed him her card and pin number and he helped himself to £900.