Jail for man who fleeced pensioner

A man who ripped off a pensioner for $67,000. Photo / Thinkstock

A West Auckland man who ripped off a pensioner for $67,000, stole his smoke alarms and was set to change his will has been jailed for more than two years.

Clayton James Walter MacDonald, also known as Clayton Henry, became "an extra carer" for the 84-year-old who lived next door in Glen Eden.

The 32-year-old father of four took the victim shopping four times at the start of the year, took note of his bankcard pin number and by July had drained the man's accounts, maxed out credit cards in his name and applied to make himself executor of his will.

At Waitakere District Court last month, MacDonald pleaded guilty to 31 charges including forgery, obtaining by deception and unlawfully opening mail.

Sergeant Brendan Stewart said the offending incorporated "considerable premeditation, a vulnerable victim and a breach of trust over a sustained period of time".

Judge John Bergseng agreed and said the offending around the will had "sinister overtones".

The victim uncovered the offending when his bank card declined and he then involved the police.

After hearing MacDonald had looked to change his will, the pensioner noticed his smoke alarms were missing.

"That's obviously caused him real concern as to what you might have been planning," Judge Bergseng said.

He ordered MacDonald to pay $1300 to the victim and $20,800 to various banks he ripped off.

MacDonald was jailed for two years and four months.