A British citizen in Almería was arrested, charged and found guilty of swindling a pensioner out of his savings. The 22-year-old man obtained over 18,000 euros from the pensioner’s account using his victim’s banking book and pin number.

The victim, who shares the same nationality, had entrusted the man with this information because he has mobility problems and was unable to go to the bank himself.

The guilty man, Mr J.R.G.S. was sentenced to a 2-year prison sentence, which he won’t be appealing against. He would have received a harsher sentence but his confession upon arrest was counted as an attenuating factor.

J.R.G.S. used the bankbook and password of the 80-year-old man on several occasions between the 29th of May and the 11th of June 2011, withdrawing amounts varying between 120 euros and 1,000 euros. He also topped up his pay-as-you-go mobile telephone, bringing the stolen amount to 18,800 euros.

Sadly, the victim died last August, before he could see the thief brought to justice, but the culprit must compensate his heirs with 18,000 euros.

(News: Los Gallardos, Almeria, Andalucia)