A fraudster conned his grandfather out of his life savings as he mourned the death of his wife.
Aidan Frier stole more than £64,000 over three years from his grandad, repaying his kindness with a "nasty, cynical and persistent" fraud.
The grandad said he had a friendly and loving relationship with his grandson before the offence.
Frier conned his family claiming he was working a fictitious job, even sending pictures to his family pretending he was working.
NORTHUMBRIA POLICE
|Aidan Frier stole over £64,000 from his grandfather
During his fake role, which began in 2021, Frier requested financial help from his grandfather to pay for his training courses and fees.
He told his grandad that his parents refused to help him out.
Gurjot Kaur, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court: "Without hesitation, (the victim) helped his grandson.
"He had no reason to doubt him; he trusted him when he said he would pay him back when qualified."
Kaur explained that the "final straw" occurred in August 2024 when Frier asked for more money and the grandfather "simply had no more money available".
Frier then "took advantage and manipulated" the victim by guiding him through applying for and getting a £4,000 loan, which was then transferred to Frier.
The court heard the fraud's behaviour shifted when challenged by his grandfather to repay the money.
The total amount Friar took from his grandfather came to £64,414.
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|Frier was sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court
Friar admitted to police that he was using the money from his grandfather to "simply live".
Kaur said: "He was remorseful and described his grandfather as an honest, loving and caring man who helped him throughout his life, financially and emotionally."
Reading to the court, the victim said: "This has impacted my life in many ways. I was so proud of myself, I believed I was helping my grandson with his education.
"He had taken all of my life savings away. I'm financially ruined. I will never get over this. I can never trust him again.
"My whole world crumbled. I've found it more heartbreaking than when my wife died. I think of what happened that day as the day my grandson died, simply because I didn't know the grandson that lied and deceived me."
Frier was jailed for 30 months and a restraining order has been imposed.