A ‘HEARTLESS’ fraudster who conned two pensioners out of their life savings has been sent to prison.

‘Ruthless’ William Loveridge charged Vincent Cheetham, 78, £21,000 to build a conservatory and toilet in his back yard, which he left unfinished.

And 85-year-old Alwyn Charlton was also cheated out of £2,000 after being persuaded to loan traveller Loveridge the money for a business deal.

The ‘con artist’ was sentenced to 18 months behind bars at Preston Crown Court and ordered to pay compensation to his victims.

Police said his victims were both ‘honest, hardworking and decent men who had worked all of their lives’.

Father-of-one Mr Cheetham, of Greenway Street, Darwen, said he thought Loveridge deserved a longer sentence for what he had done.

The retired Crown Paints warehouse worker said: “The whole thing makes me angry. It was terrible.

“Loveridge left me in difficulty because I had to repair all the jobs and then it cost me again when I had to get other builders in to complete some of the work.

“It cost me £21,000 for a botch job and he just left the yard in a mess.

“My main concern is that he does not do it to anybody else.

“He told me he was a builder and he was not at all. I think he should have got at least five years.”

The catalogue of destruction Mr Cheetham said Loveridge left behind included:

• A yard wall that was knocked down and only partially re-built 
• Work on a conservatory that was left only a foot high with no foundations or base 
• Flashing on the roof, which was removed and not replaced
• Guttering that was removed and poorly replaced, with downpipes that missed the gutter Mr Cheetham, who is divorced, said he was forced to take out extra loans to cover the costs of the repair work on his semi-detached home.

Mr Charlton, of Thornham Drive, Bolton, said he was made to believe he was loaning Loveridge £2,000 to help buy a factory in Darwen, for which he would receive a return of £500.

The pensioner said: “He did me out of quite a lot of money and I have not really recovered from it.

“I have had to economise on quite a lot of things since.”

Loveridge, 50, had completed fascia work on Mr Charlton’s bungalow before the investment was suggested.

The 85-year-old continued: “He was a very, very good con artist and he had many good powers of persuasion.

“He was certainly persuasive and very convincing.

“I am glad to hear that at least he is a guest of the Queen for a while, but I think it could have been longer.

“It would be nice to get the money back, but the important thing is that he is off the street and is not going to con anybody else for a bit.”

Loveridge, of Barlestone Road, Coalville, Leicestershire, pleaded guilty to two counts of dishonestly making false representation to make gain for self and another of theft.

He has already spent more than five months on remand, which will be subtracted from his sentence.

Defending, Philip Andrews said Loveridge, regretted his actions.

He said: “I would like to express on behalf of this defendant his sincere apology and his regret for the offences he committed.

“Not only does he regret what he has done, but he feels ashamed of what he did too.”

Sentencing, Judge Beverley Lunt said Loveridge had abused both victims’ trust.

She said: “You are a thoroughly dishonest man.

“You say you are sorry, but you have not demonstrated you are sorry. These men should not be left out of pocket.”

DC Rachel Hill from Lancashire Police said: “Loveridge is a ruthless and serial fraudster who deliberately targeted and preyed on two elderly, vulnerable people.

“The victims are both honest, hardworking and decent men who have worked all of their lives.

“They have had their life savings taken away from them in the most heartless and despicable way. ”