A PREGNANT mother-of-one from Rickmansworth has been jailed for swindling a partially sighted pensioner out of thousands of pounds.
Terri Salisbury, 31, of Curtis Close, and her boyfriend, Christopher Haynes, 24, bought luxuries including jewellery, perfume and clothing, after cynically befriending 72-year-old David Spirling.
The pair duped Mr Spirling, of Fearney Mews, Rickmansworth, into handing over his cash card and telling them his PIN code after meeting him in an alleyway near his home in April last year.
Prosecuting, George Heimler told St Albans Crown Court: "Mr Spirling suffers from very poor eyesight. This woman volunteered to carry his shopping to his flat.
"She then persuaded him he needed help at home and somebody to do his shopping."
Salisbury began to buy shopping for Mr Spirling, but would never return the change. On three occasions she asked to borrow cash - £20, £40 and £50 - which she never repaid.
She and Haynes, of Nicholas Close, Watford, who met their victim on two occasions, made a total of 88 cash withdrawals.
The couple also bought a £235 stone pendant and charm, nine-carat earrings worth £97, as well as baby clothing, food from Marks and Spencer and Domino's Pizza, and cigarettes.
They were arrested after trying to withdraw £300 from HSBC in Rickmansworth on May 12 last year, when customer services advisor, Caroline Curnell, became suspicious.
Daniel O'Malley, defending, said: "This was a breach of trust on an elderly man with very poor sight. These two are full of trepidation and bitterly regret what they have done.
"It did not start with evil intent. They started off trying to help the old gentleman. They took a little bit, a little bit more and so on."
Salisbury and Haynes both admitted theft and fraud, in total amounting to £3,300, and were both jailed for six months.
Salisbury, who is due to give birth in three weeks' time, has previous convictions for theft, shoplifting and threatening behaviour. Haynes has previous convictions for criminal damage, assault on police and obstructing police.
Sentencing them on Friday, January 21, Judge John Plumstead told them what they had done was 'repellent'.
He said: "You targeted a very vulnerable man. You were not a couple scraping by for necessities. You spent the money on jewellery, perfume, aftershave. It was pure self-indulgence. You both helped yourselves cynically."
Judge Plumstead also praised bank worker Ms Curnell, saying: "She has been a bank worker for 30 years and her vigilance and good sense led to the fraud being stopped.
"HSBC have also chosen to reimburse the victim and that is to their credit."
