Drug addict used fake sob stories to swindle money from strangers
A DRUG addict who swindled strangers out of cash by claiming his children had cancer has been jailed for 18 months.
Gary Lyon, 47, tugged at the heartstrings of his victims with fake sob stories about his son having surgery or his daughter lying gravely ill in hospital.
One daughter, now 15, did have leukaemia when she was younger but had recovered. Lyon really wanted the money to fund a £ 50- aday crack cocaine addiction.
As well as the frauds, he repeatedly stole from his 70- year- old disabled mother Anna – including jewellery worth £ 6,000.
Manchester Crown Court heard the father of two, from Wythenshawe, duped his victims by pretending he had run out of petrol on the way to hospital. On one occasion, he targeted an 80- year- old woman telling her he needed £ 20 to buy fuel. He said he would repay the cash but gave a false name and phone number.
He conned £ 10 from another stranger after saying he needed to pick up his son from hospital following an operation. He then added: “Mate, that’s really not enough, £ 20 will see me through.”
Jobless Lyon, who has 42 previous convictions, pleaded guilty to four thefts, eight counts of fraud and one count of taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent.
Graham Robinson, prosecuting, said: “The first complainant was 80. He gave details as to how she would recover the money, which were false. She paid it over, trusting what he had said to her.”
Tom McKail, defending, said Lyon was “disgusted” by his behaviour and wanted to apologise.
But the judge, Miss Recorder Fiona Barry, said: “It is not possible to suspend this sentence.
“You repeatedly used your daughter’s previous ill health to elicit sympathy and generosity to fund your drug addiction.”