A fraudster will miss the birth of his second child as well as Christmas after being jailed for ripping off an 88-year-old woman.

Andrew Martin’s lawyer had urged the judge to delay sentence until next year so he could be at the birth and also have time to repay his victim.

Martin’s heavily pregnant wife fled court in tears as defence lawyer Phil Rowley explained the birth was overdue.

He urged Judge James O’Mahony to postpone sentence, saying Martin had landed a £750-a-week job and could compensate his elderly victim for the £3,400 scam.

But the judge told him: “This was a persistent victimisation of a vulnerable lady over a considerable period of time.

“You had plenty of time to think about all those things, your family, your partner, your work - but you didn’t. You kept coming back to fill your boots with her resources.

“You ripped her off and took advantage of her vulnerability.”

Martin, 31, of Curzon Close, Walmer, met his victim two years ago and was given £900 for work to the guttering at her home.

But Canterbury Crown Court heard how he didn’t carry out any of the work and disappeared, returning a year later.

Prosecutor Antony Hook said: “He said he could get her money back and drove her into Deal, parked up and disappeared. He returned saying he couldn’t get the money back and drove her home.”

In March this year, the pensioner was phoned by someone claiming to be from her bank saying there was a problem with her bank card.

“Later the same day, Mr Martin arrived saying he had been sent from the bank to take her card to the manager," the prosecutor said.

“He then proceeded to use the card, getting £2,500 which he used to buy things from a DIY store and groceries."

Martin pleaded guilty to theft and fraud and was given a jail sentence of two years and seven months.

The judge added: “You have been given chance after chance. I can’t, for one minute, trust you to repay your victim.”

Martin's wife then returned to the public gallery, and as he was being led away, he shouted: “I love you. I love you.”