A MAN who duped a pensioner out of £29,100 has been jailed for 21 months.

Durham Crown Court was told how the 82-year-old victim, from the Darlington area, and who had a history of angina, found his life savings gone and his account overdrawn.

Paul Newcombe, prosecuting, said Barrant Dhue, 36, transferred the money to an account set up in his name using a false passport and a power bill.

The funds were then withdrawn from the new account within four days of it being opened in July 2002.

Mr Newcombe said police were alerted when the victim, who thought he had about £28,500 in his account, made inquiries at the Abbey National, which has since changed its name to Abbey, after being told his account was overdrawn by £500.

The investigation led to the arrest of Mr Dhue, who was identified from fingerprints found on transfer forms.

Dhue, a father of five from Catford, south London, pleaded guilty to seven charges relating to the opening of the account and the withdrawal of the money, including five counts of obtaining a money transfer by deception.

The Abbey National has since reimbursed the victim for the full amount.

Joan Smith, defending, said Dhue was homeless and needed money because of a custody battle for one of his children.

He said he had been approached by a Nigerian gang, which asked him to become involved in the scam.

Dhue said he received £2,000 of the money.

Sentencing Dhue, Judge Richard Lowden said: "Maybe you never did get all the cash, but you knew you were involved in a wicked deception against an old man."