A conman marched an 83-year-old man to two banks to force him to withdraw £4,000 of his life savings, a court heard.

The money was supposed to pay for work carried out by Michael Allen and another man to clean out gutters and replace a roof tile.

But Norwich Crown Court heard the price agreed was £400, and Allen had claimed it was £4,000 when it came to settling the bill.

Lori Tucker, prosecuting, said the pair took the vulnerable pensioner to two banks so he could withdraw the cash, as the limit for each transaction was £2000.

Ms Tucker said Allen was later arrested when his fingerprint was found on a receipt.

The pensioner, who is now 84 and lives alone, said in an impact statement he was left feeling 'rather foolish' to be conned in this way.

Allen, from Romford, admitted fraud on April 22, last year and was jailed for 12 months.

Recorder Guy Ayers also made a compensation order for £4,000 after the court was told Allen had lodged the cash with his lawyers so it could be paid back to the victim.

Recorder Ayers described it as a 'thoroughly mean offence' and said Allen had taken advantage of a vulnerable elderly man.

He said that £4,000 would have been a 'ludicrous' price for the work carried out and said: 'It is the sort of offence that the public really dislike when vulnerable elderly people are ripped off of their life savings or savings which mean a great deal to them.'

However he said Allen deserved a great deal of credit for offering to pay the cash back.

'I very much bear in mind that you have put your solicitor in funds so the victim can be compensated. You deserve a great deal of credit for that so the gentleman does not lose his money.'

Neil Guest, for Allen, said he deserved credit for his plea as it saved the victim coming to court and also for the fact he was paying the cash back.

'His remorse is genuine.'