A “GRUBBY” fraudster swindled a pensioner, a work colleague, and even his own brother.

James Trodd conned his grandmother’s best friend by exploiting their love of the Supremes in Shoreham.

He claimed they were all victims of a fraud, and told Patricia Ross to hand over bank details, email addresses, her passport and other documents.

The manipulative 24-year-old then wormed his way into her bank accounts, pension, and emails in order to fleece her.

“There are no swear words to describe him, he is just evil,” she said.

Trodd also conned his work colleague Kelly Crosskey, 26, to stump up the cash for a fake recruitment business in Brighton.

But when his web of lies was revealed, he tried to blame the women and trick the police.

At Hove Crown Court Trodd admitted seven counts of fraud and was jailed for three years and three months.

Judge David Rennie described him as “grubby, unkind, manipulative, and spiteful”.

Amy Packham, prosecuting, said the offences started when Trodd was introduced to his grandmother’s friend Patricia Ross in April 2016.

Trodd exploited her love of the Supremes to convince her to buy a gold disc worth £1,200 for £400. He then charged her three times to reclaim the amount.

Then he lied to her about them both being victims of fraud when she started receiving letters for credit cards and loans.

Ms Ross handed over her passport and bank details when he claimed solicitors were investigating the supposed frauds against her.

Over 15 months he tried to divert her state pension, took out loans, and maxed-out credit cards.

When she rumbled him, he took over her Facebook account to hide the messages between them.

Trodd stole £20,000 and Ms Ross found out he had made a further 11 unsuccessful attempts to gain access to her finances, including switching her address to his own, and tried to access her ISA account.

Then from February 2017 to March 2017 he conned Ms Crosskey out of more than £2,000.

Then when on bail this year he defrauded Ms Ross again, changing the bank details for her pension and online passwords.

And despite getting support from his brother Henry at court, Trodd accessed his bank account and transferred £350.

Sarah Thorne, defending, said Trodd, formerly of Kingsland Close, Shoreham, was “remorseful” about his crimes. She said he has suffered from depression and committed the frauds to pay off his own debts. Judge Rennie asked her to explain why Trodd appeared to have been “gratuitous and nasty”.

Ms Thorne said it was probably because Trodd was under the influence of cocaine and alcohol.

Judge Rennie sentenced Trodd, and told him: “You have caused enormous harm, not just financial, but also on the emotional and psychological wellbeing of people who trusted you, who you beguiled by your charm. You should be utterly ashamed. The ongoing mistreatment was grubby, unkind, manipulative and spiteful.”