A Rochester conman has chalked up more than 20 years in jail sentences since he was 13 years-old.

Now devious Michael Nicholls, 46, has been sent back to prison after targeting more vulnerable victims - forcing one to leave her home after 40 years.

He has been given a five-year-and-four month sentence, ordered to stay away from his victims for 10 years and pay £181.20 in compensation.

Nicholls, of Shorts Way, Borstal, admitted nine frauds, three thefts and a burglary, totalling £46,000 has added to his 96 previous convictions.

Prosecutor Piers Reed told Maidstone Crown Court how the crook befriended a 71-year-old woman who lived near him.

"She said that when Nicholls and his wife moved in he was very friendly, always asking her to come up to his flat for a cup of tea and calling her 'mum' and telling her how much they loved her."

But the judge heard that in February 2018, Nicholls asked her for £1,000, saying that in June he was due to receive money because his father had passed away.

"She withdrew the money and gave it to him, understanding that it was to go towards buying furniture for his flat. He promised to pay her back and in fact gave her £200 - but then asked her to lend him the £200, saying it was money for his son."

Mr Reed said that the victim later gave him her bank card and pin number so he could withdraw £200 saying the money should be used for his work and his van.

"He deliberately befriended her because she was elderly and vulnerable. She thought he was withdrawing small sums of money - but he was withdrawing large sums and using her card without her knowledge or authority...totalling £41,872."

She later revealed in a statement: "I was so shocked and stunned when I learned what Mick had done to me. I was feeling like such a fool that I had let him do this to me.

"I was away from my home for eight weeks after this happened because I couldn't remain in the same block as him. I felt depressed and anxious.

"I am going to have to sell my home where I have lived for 40 years because of all the debt I have been left with.

"This has been such a happy home, but as a result of Mick I have to leave."

The prosecutor said Nicholls also conned another neighbour who had moved from Maidstone - using his removal firm for an agreed fee of £200 - but after loading up the van, the conman doubled the charge.

The "very friendly" Nicholls then offered to put items valued at more than £3,000 into storage for him - but they were never seen again.

The victim gave his bank card so Nicholls could buy small items "when he was desperate" - but then discovered £1,800 was missing, the court heard.

"There is a common theme of your offending which is you targeting elderly and vulnerable people..."

Mr Reed revealed how the kindly neighbour allowed Nicholls to use his car but it was then damaged and he refused to return it, offering £800 for the vehicle.

In a separate incident, Nicholls went into a store in Rochester with a woman and began an argument to distract the manager by threatening to stab him as chocolates, coffee and Oxo cubes were stolen by his fellow thief.

On October 10, 2020, Nicholls and a woman went into a flat where an elderly man lived claiming they were authorised to help, but helped themselves to his phone and wallet.

Judge Jeremy Donne QC told him: "There is a common theme of your offending which is you targeting elderly and vulnerable people.

"Your criminal career started when you were 13 and since then your offending seems to have covered the whole criminal calendar. You have been sentenced to something like 20 years in total."

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