A FRAUDSTER who conned an elderly widow out of her life savings has been jailed.

Orhan Usal, 38, befriended the pensioner who lives in North Finchley soon after her husband died in 2002.

Police said the schemer would often compliment the woman's garden and visit her for tea to gain her trust over a period of about four years.

In 2006, Usal then asked the woman for £30,000 as a deposit for a restaurant he wanted to set up and promised to return the money within a month once the banks had cleared the account.

The victim lent Usal the money in November 2006.

But after not being able to contact him throughout the following month she became worried, but did not contact the police until June 2008.

After almost two years on the run, Usal was traced to a flat in Glyn Avenue, Barnet, having tried to make benefit payment enquiries.

He was arrested and charged with fraud, but the Turkish national made no comment during interview and has never revealed what the money was used for.

He was sentenced to six months imprisonment on June 30 at Wood Green Crown Court.

Police said the case amounted to serious fraud because of the vulnerability of the victim and the fact the money has never been recovered.

Detective Constable Mark Head of Barnet Police, who was the investigating officer in the case, said: “The victim has lost her life savings and now has to rely on her family.

“This is a nasty fraud because she was on her own and someone has abused her trust. It doesn't get much more serious than that.

“People who commit these types of crime are preying on the vulnerability of elderly members of the community. A friendship has been built up over a long period of time and he has then abused that, taken the money and disappeared.

“It is hard to say whether he had any remorse or regret, but he could have helped us and the victim by telling us what he had done with the money.”

Police are now warning people about abuse of trust and falling victim to burglary.

Detective Sergeant Tom Kearney of Barnet Police, said: “Older people are often targeted and can lose a lot of money to unscrupulous, rogue traders.

“Residents who are conned by these people are embarrassed, they are reticent about it, and if they are vulnerable they may not even feel they are victims.

“These criminals are often quite charming and they try to build a rapport, but their actions can often have a serious emotional impact on the victim.”

DS Kearney said anyone concerned with being asked to hand over money should ask for ID, get other quotes for works they have been told need doing, contact trading standards or call the police.

He added: “We urge people to remain vigilant and aware and when money is talked about they should seek advice if they are not sure.”