TWO men have been jailed for a total of nine years after defrauding a New Forest pensioner out of his life savings.

Kevin Smith and Carl Anscombe, both from West Sussex, were sentenced yesterday for conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation.

Smith, aged 30, from Stopham View, Pulborough, was sentenced to two years in prison after being found guilty by a jury at Southampton Crown Court in July 2016.

Anscombe, aged 46, Greenways in Polegate, was sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to the offence in November last year.

In July 2013, Anscombe and Smith set about befriending a 68-year-old man from the New Forest.

The pair, acting under fake names, fabricated a story to convince the man of a bogus investment opportunity at a mobile home park in Surrey.

The duo convinced the man there were good profits to be made and proceeded to convince him to part with more than £89,000 in cash payments over just a few months.

Once the victim’s life savings were gone, Anscombe and Smith even resorted to encouraging him to take out loans.

Detective Constable Louise Hawkins from the Western Investigations Team said: “This was a disgusting crime committed against a vulnerable man. "These men targeted their victim and conned him out of everything he had ever worked for.

“This sentence won't ever be able to replace what the victim has lost or alleviate what he has been through, however it does mean these men can't take financial advantage of anyone else, any time soon.”