A fraudster conned a friend's elderly mother out of her life savings after falsely claiming to be dying from cancer.

Mark Button had created a false life, travelling first-class to America.

Mark Button

He hired a posse of heavyweights to create the impression he worked for the American secret service to help deceive the victim's son.

His victim, Jean Douglas, not only emptied her bank account, but cashed in shares to meet his unending demands for money, London's Southwark Crown Court was told.

The retired nurse handed over £105,000.

Button, 37, a former bankrupt, of Crowell, Chinnor, was jailed for three years by Judge Paul Dodgson.

He admitted nine offences of deception between February and June 1999, involving £65,700 belonging to Mrs Douglas.

Six similar offences, involving another £39,700 of her savings, were not dealt with.

Brendan Kelly, prosecuting, said father-of-five Button was a clerical assistant when he became friends with his victim's son, solicitor Charles Douglas.

Some time later Button began claiming he was suffering from terminal cancer, a pretence he was to maintain for the next six years.

Mark Fenhalls, defending, said his client "regretted" his actions.

He not only had to live with the fact that he had swindled Mrs Douglas, but was also responsible, as a result of a separate matter, for his parents' home being repossessed. Sentencing him, Judge Dodgson said: "Offences of this sort strike at a precious commodity in our community -- that of trust. The victim worked hard with her husband to provide for their retirement and give her family some security.

"Like any predator you sniffed the air and realised she was a victim who could be exploited."