A GARDENER who duped an elderly woman out of her life savings has been jailed for his “despicable exploitation”.

Oliver Horspole targeted “extremely vulnerable” pensioner Beatrice Gourlay, fleecing her of more than £9,000 of her cash.

The 24-year-old was jailed for 12 months for his “callous and prolonged deception”, which involved giving himself handouts for work he claimed he was doing for Mrs Gourlay.

Sentencing at Oxford Crown Court yesterday, Judge Ian Pringle QC said Horspole invented a scheme allowing him to reward himself for work he never carried out, delivering a “devastating blow” to his victim when she discovered the fraud.

Prosecutor James Dean said Mrs Gourlay initially agreed for the defendant to do “irregular” gardening work for her for £25 per hour. He said the victim would sign blank cheques and leave Horspole to fill in the rest of it, increasing his hourly rate.

The prosecutor said the victim was left “flabbergasted” when she went to Barclay’s Chipping Norton branch to withdraw money but was told she had insufficient funds.

The court heard “traumatised” Mrs Gourlay, then 83, considered Horspole a polite young man at first but felt “distraught” her life savings were taken.

Defence barrister Robert Batch said father-of-one Horspole, who had two previous convictions, felt “extremely ashamed” of his behaviour and wanted to repay the money.

Horspole, of Edward Stone Rise, Chipping Norton, must also pay a victim surcharge.