A fraudster who stole the majority of a pensioner's life savings has been jailed for 33 months.

Justin Sewell, 43, of Beulah Road, Thornton Heath was arrested on March 15 and charged with two counts of fraud and one count of possession of a controlled drug.

He pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court on Thursday, August 10 and was sentenced today August 11) to 33 months' imprisonment for each count to run concurrently.

The court heard that on Wednesday, March 1, Sewell - who was not known to the victim prior to this offence - managed to have his name added to the 91-year-old pensioner's savings account.

On that day he attended a Natwest bank with an unknown woman who pretended to be the victim - they fraudulently completed the relevant paperwork to have Sewell's name added to the account.

On March 9, Sewell transferred £50,000 across from the victim's account to his own and the following day transferred a further £40,000.

Less than a week later he was in a Natwest bank in Croydon when staff alerted police to his request to make a further withdrawal. He was arrested by officers from Croydon that day - during this arrest he was found to be in possession of cannabis.

Detective Constable Sam Bennett from Croydon CID, said: "This was a deceitful crime in which Sewell stole a significant sum of money from an elderly lady's bank account.

"A swift police investigation established that Sewell had withdrawn two large sums and was seeking a third withdrawal when he was caught.

"Anyone who believes they have been a victim of fraud should call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040."

The woman who accompanied Sewell on his first visit to the bank has not been traced - anyone with information should contact police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.