A CONMAN who committed a series of “despicable” frauds against a 90-year-old widow was last night beginning a three-year jail term.

Alfred Down “clearly targeted” Daisy Cassie as he extracted more than £45,000 from her over a six-month period.

She collapsed and died just weeks after the crimes were uncovered.

The defendant, of Woodhill Lane Caravan Park, East Challow, was jailed at Oxford Crown Court yesterday after earlier admitting 18 counts of fraud and one of money laundering totalling £45,370.

The crimes took place between September 2008 and March 2009.

Prosecutor Roger Coventry said: “The chief victim was a 90-year-old widow who was vulnerable and clearly targeted for fraud.”

Police were called and spoke to the victim when her bank noticed the high-value cheques leaving her account.

Mr Coventry said: “It was clear she could remember people having come to her address offering her a great deal on gravel.

“She described them as ‘rogues’, someone who had no good reason to be there. She hadn’t asked them to come to her house.”

The victim confirmed her signature was on the majority of the cheques but couldn’t remember writing them. Initially each cheque was for about £250 but as 25-year-old Down, a married father of one, became more brazen the amounts reached up to £6,000 at a time.

Down was caught after police installed a covert camera at Mrs Cassie’s address and the widow was able to pick him out at an identification parade.

She died 32 days later.

David Rhodes, defending, said: “This is despicable conduct and nothing I intend to say can get away from that.

“Mr Down has asked me first and foremost to offer a public apology to this court and to Miss Cassie’s family. He is thoroughly ashamed of himself.”

He added: “I have to say he strikes me as a rather naive young man, perhaps not very bright, who has got himself involved in an enterprise that’s clearly not of his making, though he’s leant himself to it and is clearly not the controlling mind.”

Recorder Julian Knowles jailed Down – whose wife is expecting their second child – for three years.

He said: “This was despicable behaviour. Those who target elderly and vulnerable victims really have to look at themselves and ask what sort of person they are.”