Latest news with #AidanFrier
Telegraph
21-07-2025
- Telegraph
‘Evil' grandson stole £64k life savings from his grieving grandfather
An 'evil' grandson stole £64,000 from his grieving grandfather's life savings, a court heard. Aidan Frier, 26, has been jailed for two and a half years over the fraud, which began soon after his grandfather's wife died. He repeatedly lied about having a job and needing money for training courses between 2021 and last year. The victim said finding out that his grandson had been defrauding him was 'more heartbreaking' than his wife's death. He said: 'I am emotionally ruined. I will never get over this, I can never trust him again.' The victim said he had worked for 49 years to save enough to enjoy a comfortable and 'peaceful' retirement, but his grandson's 'evil' scheme and 'betrayal' had taken this all away from him. He said: 'He needs to admit he has been evil by stealing from me.' The scam began in January 2021 when Frier told relatives that he had begun working under a scholarship scheme and needed money to cover tuition fees, accommodation costs and training courses. Fraud by false representation Frier, who admitted fraud by false representation, also faked photographs of himself pretending to be at work and created fake bank emails, Gurjot Kaur, prosecuting, said. His grandfather agreed to send the money 'without hesitation' and had 'no reason to doubt' his grandson's claims that he would pay it back once qualified, Newcastle Crown Court was told. He later manipulated his grandfather into giving him a £4,000 loan which went immediately into his account. He was unmasked as a fraudster last August when the victim went into his local bank branch to say his grandson had asked for a further £12,000. Staff quickly recognised that the emails he was showing them were scams, the court heard. In mitigation, Peter Sabiston said Frier accepted his conduct was 'shameful' and he was now 'completely isolated' from his own family, which was 'his own fault'. The judge, Recorder Christopher Knox said Frier's crime was 'mean, nasty and cynical', with the fraud conducted in a 'startling and outrageous way'. The judge said: 'You used the money to live a life you didn't deserve. 'You owe money to everybody. You will never be able to enjoy the respect and affection of your family because of the cloud you have brought upon yourself.'
BBC News
18-07-2025
- BBC News
South Shields fraudster stole £64k from his grandfather
An "evil" fraudster who stole £64,000 from his own grieving grandfather has been jailed for two and a half Frier, 26 and from South Shields, repeatedly lied about having a job and needing money for education courses over three and a half years, Newcastle Crown Court grandfather, who lost his wife shortly before the fraud began in 2021, said he was "ruined" with his live savings gone and him having to pay back a £4,000 loan Frier had persuaded him to take who fabricated photographs of himself pretending to be at work and created fake bank emails, admitted fraud by false representation. 'No reason to doubt' In January 2021, Frier told his family he had started work under a scholarship scheme and needed money for training courses, tuition fees and accommodation costs, prosecutor Gurjot Kaur took pictures of himself pretending to be working out at sea using equipment he took from a friend, the court grandfather, whose wife died in 2020, agreed "without hesitation" to send money and had "no reason to doubt" his grandson's claims he would be repaid once Frier was qualified, the court was of Fowler Street, took "further advantage" of his grandfather's trust by manipulating him into taking out a £4,000 bank loan, with the money then immediately transferred to the fraudster's account, Ms Kaur offending came to light in August 2024 when Frier's grandfather went into a local branch of his bank to say his grandson had asked for a further £12,000, with staff quickly recognising the emails he was showing them were scams, the court total, Frier fraudulently obtained £64,414 from his grandfather. 'Never trust him again' In statements read to the court, Frier's grandfather said he had worked hard for 49 years to build up his savings and enjoy a comfortable and "peaceful" retirement, but his grandson had taken that all away with his "evil" scheme and "betrayal".The victim said finding out his grandson had been stealing from him was "more heartbreaking" than losing his wife, adding he felt a "terrible pain of rejection and loss"."I am emotionally ruined," the man said, adding: "I will never get over this, I can never trust him again."The court heard he still having to pay off the £4,000 loan at a rate of £360 a month. In mitigation, Peter Sabiston said Frier accepted his conduct was "shameful" and he was now "completely isolated" from his own family, which was "his own fault".Recorder Christopher Knox said Frier's crime was "mean, nasty and cynical", with the fraud conducted in an elaborate, "startling and outrageous way"."You used the money to live a life you didn't deserve," the judge said."You owe money to everybody. You will never be able to enjoy the respect and affection of your family because of the cloud you have brought upon yourself."A restraining order banning Frier from contacting his grandfather was also made. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
