Two fraudsters who targeted man in his 90s locked up for more than six years
The pair went on a spending spree across Derby and Burton withdrawing thousands of pounds in cash and buying mobile phones, clothes and hotel stays.
Two fraudsters who targeted elderly victims stealing thousands of pounds from their accounts have been jailed.
The investigation into Alex Hyland and Jonjo Swaine began after they targeted their victim, a man in his 90s, by posing as police officers working in a national fraud team on August 18 2024.
They told the man his bank account had been compromised and that he needed to leave his bank cards and pin numbers on his doorstep so that they can be collected and examined.
They also managed to convince him that his son’s account had been attacked by crooks and that he also needed to hand over his cards for checks.
After the pair took the cards, they went on a spending spree across Derby and Burton, withdrawing thousands of pounds in cash and buying mobile phones, clothes and hotel stays.
The victim became aware of the fraud after the bank contacted him – and he rang Derbyshire Constabulary to report the crime on August 22 – with PC Pete Herrett, from the Derbyshire Constabulary Volume Fraud Unit, attending his home that same day.
The investigation began and PC Herrett quickly identified the car used by the criminals with CCTV from the stores the cards were used at seized and viewed.
The faces of the men using the cards were run through the Police National Database to check if there were any matches. A match was found for both Hyland and Swaine.
As the investigation progressed a further, fraud by the pair was found where a £1700 infra red sauna had been ordered using the card of another elderly victim, this time in Essex.
The woman, in her 80s, did not wish to provide a statement due to ill health, but the company that were left out of pocket for the sauna provided details including the address linked to Hyland where the item was delivered.
Eventually the pair were tracked down and arrested in April 2025 where they were charged and remanded for multiple fraud offences.
They both pleaded guilty and appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on November 14 where Hyland, 25, of Roxburgh Street, Walton, was jailed for three years and nine months, and Swaine, 23, of Wilburn Street, Walton, was jailed for three years and two months.
C Herrett said: “Swaine and Hyland deliberately targeted elderly residents, tricking them into handing over their bank cards and PIN numbers without any regard for the devastating impact on the victims.
“As a force we will continue to pursue offenders and support victims of fraud-related crimes. Let this serve as a strong warning: the police do investigate fraud, and we will prosecute wherever possible.”
Detective Inspector Pete Hundal, who leads the fraud unit at Derbyshire Constabulary, said: “Fraud is no victimless crime – with the both the financial and emotional impact being huge.
“Hyland and Swaine showed a callous disregard for their victims, and they moved quickly to swindle thousands in an incredibly short period of time.
“I hope the sentence passed brings their victims some comfort and will keep the public safe from two individuals who are in my eyes, and I am sure in the eyes of every right-thinking member of the public, beyond contempt.
“I would also take this moment to urge everyone to speak to their friends and family, especially those of advancing years, about the dangers of those who look to exploit the public-spirited nature of caring members of our community.”
How to keep yourself and others safe from scams
- If someone knocks at your front door claiming to be from a company, first check their ID. If you’re not happy, don’t let them in.
- Never call the phone number on a salesperson's ID card to check them out. Ask them to wait outside, shut the door and find the company number on the internet. If they’re genuine, they’ll understand.
- Banks and the police will never call you to verify your PIN. They won’t ask you to withdraw money or buy or send items on their behalf for investigations. Hang up if you get a call like this.
- Always verify suspicious calls by contacting the organisation using a trusted phone number. Calling 159 will put you through to your bank. If calling back from a landline after a suspicious call, wait a few minutes as criminals may stay on the line after you hang up. Alternatively, use a different phone line to call your bank.
- Never transfer money or make purchases on behalf of someone you don’t know.
- If it's an emergency, call the police on 999.
- Report suspicious activity to Report Fraud, the UK’s national cyber crime and fraud reporting service.