Newbridge man jailed after impersonating charity worker to steal money from elderly

A man from Newbridge who targeted the vulnerable and elderly in a series of scams has been jailed for 18 months.

Jonathan Sterry, 33, posed as a St John’s Ambulance charity worker to gain entry to homes in a sheltered housing complex on St Peter’s Close, Newbridge.

Once inside the homes, Sterry would use his guise to take money from his victims under the pretence that it was going to the charity. He also stole a car from outside one of the bungalows.

Sterry pleaded guilty to five counts of fraud, one count of burglary and one count of taking a motor vehicle without consent.

He was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court on Monday March 7.

Sterry has a history of using the same scam, and was previously sentenced to four years in jail at Newport Crown Court in 2010, for impersonating a St John’s Ambulance worker and stealing money for his own gain.

Gwent Police PC Laura O’Sullivan said: “These are despicable crimes which have had far reaching effects on the victims and their community.”