A 47-year-old man has been sentenced to a year in prison for his involvement in a theft from an elderly man in Wells.

Peter Maughan, of Greenfields Way, Weston-super-Mare, received a 12-month jail term at Bristol Crown Court following his admission of conspiracy to steal.

The incident occurred on 11 September 2023, after the 85-year-old victim withdrew cash from a bank in Wells. Maughan, who followed the elderly man as he drove from the bank, was identified as the driver of the vehicle involved in the theft.

The victim's car was later stopped and an accomplice of Maughan snatched his cash.

Maughan surrendered himself to the police later that month. Some of the stolen money was recovered, and he was ordered to pay compensation to cover the total amount stolen within six months. Two other individuals arrested in connection with the theft were subsequently released without further action.

Investigating officer PC Jim Card described the crime as particularly heinous due to its premeditated nature and the targeting of a vulnerable elderly person. "The vehicle Maughan used was displaying false registration plates, and he specifically waited outside the bank for a vulnerable target. He followed the victim for several miles before enabling his accomplice to carry out the theft," PC Card said.

While the elderly victim was not seriously injured, he was left in shock by the incident. PC Card reassured the public that such crimes against senior citizens are rare but emphasised the importance of vigilance.

He encourages those concerned for their own safety or that of vulnerable older friends or family members to visit the Avon and Somerset Police website for personal safety advice: https://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/crime-prevention-advice/keeping-yourself-safe/.