Con artists exploited victims’ generosity

JAILED: Winifred Ward

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HUSBAND and wife con artists have been jailed for exploiting the “generational generosity, naivety and innocence” of an elderly couple.

Martin and Winifred Ward bluffed their way into the Oldham home of 92-year old Frank Fox and his wife Maureen (94) by falsely claiming one of them was “feeling poorly”.

While retired social worker Mrs Fox was making hot drinks and home-madae scones for the callous couple, Winifred asked to use the loo - then rifled through the victims’ belongings, grabbing two mobile phones bought for the coule by their children for emergencies.

When Ward returned she even finished her scone before the pair left and sold the phones to support their heroin habits.

At Manchester Crown Court the Wards, both 42, admitted theft and were jailed for 17 months.

Passing sentence, Judge Angela Nield told them: “This was a frankly despicable offence, committed against a couple in their 90s.

“Whatever may have been your thoughts previously it seems obvious there was a measure of targeting as soon as their vulnerability was apparent.

“Out of kindness or a direct request from you, they offered you hospitality and a warm drink. They allowed you access, in innocence, naivety and most open-handedly, to their home and were repaid by you taking the only items of value on open display.”

The pair turned up at the house last September and Mr Fox refused their offer to do odd jobs. They went to the back of the house and were admitted by his wife when they asked for a drink.

The pair didn’t realise they had been caught on a video camera trained on the front of the house. Police recognised the Wards from the images.

Former social worker Mrs Fox maintained her generosity when she heard the couple had been jailed: “It’s just in my nature to get someone a cup of tea,” she said. “I was very upset when I heard they got 17 months. I would make them do a week or two as punishment. It’s not in my nature to get people locked up but I’m very angry for what they did.”

Mr Fox said the crime illustrated the lack of respect people have for the elderly: “You have to be more careful today and more aware,” he said. “We never used to lock the back door until this. There used to be more respect for older people. I think a lot of the crime now is fuelled by drugs.”

Winifred Ward has 29 previous convictions for theft and similar crimes, her husband 16 previous convictions.