A serial conman who ripped off little old ladies has been sent to jail. The wonder is he is actually going to jail, normally the liberal panty-waist judges give them home detention and a cuddle:
One victim of a serial con artist who ripped off more than 60 big-hearted Cantabrians walked two hours to court today just to watch “the bloody crook” go to jail.
Kim Barwell, 47, used a well-rehearsed petrol scam where he would pose as a farmer who had run out of petrol.
The caregiver would ask them for petrol money so he could get home, promising to pay them back straight away, and even offering them free meat from his non-existent Canterbury farm.
He targeted dozens of people, often elderly shoppers, in his scam which pocketed him more than $5000.
But today at Christchurch District Court he was sent to prison for 16 months on 65 charges of causing people a loss by deception and for three theft charges, including when he stole a Salvation Army donation money box.
“I’m happy he’s gone to jail,” said Alan Strez, a 70-year old pensioner, conned out of $140 by Barwell at Barrington Mall last year.
What a scum bag. He better hope one of those old people doesn’t have a relative in prison…he better not drop the soap:
