A FRAUDSTER tricked a retired school teacher out of more than £28,000 after befriending her while she was on holiday in Portugal.

Sheldon Gould, 37, of Osney Court, Botley Road, Oxford, was jailed for 12 months after pleading guilty to five charges of fraud.

Iain Willis, prosecuting, told Warwick Crown Court Gould had left the UK in 2003, leaving behind a number of outstanding police investigations.

In 2007, Mary James and her partner went on holiday to Portugal where she met and befriended Gould, who was working for a time share company.

After returning home she began to receive emails from him asking for money for medical treatment, including treatment for testicular cancer.

She also agreed to help him set up a publishing company on the Algarve and to prop up the business when it was struggling.

Mr Willis, who said Miss James had lost her retirement savings, added: “He has been spending it on the high life, drink and drugs, and was continually abusing her trust.”

Sophie Murray, defending, said: “He wants me to express his deep regret, remorse and shame that he brought this experience on Miss James. They were friends, good friends he thought, and he took advantage of that.”

She said Gould had overcome addictions to alcohol and cocaine which had fuelled the offences.