Man who faked a terminal illness jailed for theft and fraud

A 31 year-old man from Walcott who told his victims he was terminally ill in order to steal from them has been sentenced to 20 month imprisonment today (Friday 27 June).

David Andrews, of The Walkway, Walcott, appeared before Norwich Crown Court for sentencing after pleading guilty to two counts of theft and fraud by false representation.

Andrews was charged following the theft of electrical equipment including an iPad and an Xbox Connect from two separate victims. He then resold some of these stolen items, claiming they were his property.

He began relationships with his victims, telling them that his terminally ill and suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as a result of serving as a Royal Marine in Afghanistan – neither of which is true.

Sergeant Kevin White, commented: “Andrews chose vulnerable victims for these thefts and span a web of lies in order that they trusted him. He followed the same pattern in both cases and his deceit has caused great distress to those affected. It is positive to see this sentence passed today.”

“We believe Andrews may have done this to other women in the past so I would ask anyone else who may have been affected to come forward.”

The sentence relate to a theft in Cromer where an iPad, an iPod, Xbox Connect and a DS Lite were stolen between 9 November and 2 December 2013, an attempt to gain cash by making false representation in North Walsham between 9 November and 29 November 2013 and the theft of an iPad from a property in Spixworth between 1 October and 7 October 2012.