A MAN serving a jail term for causing a fatal crash has been sentenced for ripping off elderly people for gardening work.

Noah Chapman tricked an elderly couple into believing he was working for Borough of Poole and had authority to cut down a council owned tree by their property.

Bournemouth Crown Court heard that on March 17 last year the 23-year-old cold-called the pair at their home in Lytham Road.

"Mr Chapman replied that he worked for the council, left a flyer with them, and came back the next day with another man," said Richard Tutt, prosecuting.

"They cut down the tree at the rear of the property.

"They then said they would do further work cutting dead wood. Overall the charge would be £1,000."

The court heard on Wednesday that Chapman, of Oakley Fields, Odstock, Salisbury, returned to their address offering to cut down a second tree but was declined by the couple, who were becoming suspicious.

On March 29, Mr Tutt said, Chapman and an accomplice carried out work for an elderly woman in St David's Road, Upton. They drove the victim to a cash point after demanding £500 for cutting down a tree they said might damage her greenhouse.

Chapman admitted five counts including fraud by false representation, criminal damage and dishonestly failing to disclose information.

He is currently serving a three year jail term for careless driving and perverting the course of justice after a hit and run crash on the A338 Salisbury Road on April 28 last year, which caused the death of 70-year-old cyclist Richard White.

Police said Chapman "did everything he could to try and get away with what he'd done".

He was due to be released in June next year, but at the sentencing hearing on Wednesday Judge Brian Forster QC added a consecutive 12 month sentence.

"I wish to make it absolutely clear, if you were not already serving a sentence, the sentence I would impose would be much longer," he said.

In mitigation, Rob Harding said his client had learning difficulties and had suffered with a "harrowing" upbringing.

"Since being in custody he has enhanced prisoner status and is working the whole time he has there, getting qualifications," he said.

"He plans to have a career in landscape gardening.

"It doesn't excuse what he did, but it points towards the kind of man Mr Chapman hopes to become."

He added: "I would feel comfortable employing his services on his release from prison. I simply want to highlight the character of this young man."