AN 'EVIL' con-man who preyed on vulnerable elderly people and abused neighbours and emergency personnel has been jailed at Plymouth Crown Court, writes court reporter Graham Broach.

Leslie Brien, pictured, had been convicted at trial of fraud after he and two other men called at the house of a couple in their eighties at Brixton in 2008. Brien offered to do gardening work, later valued at £40, but then demanded £600.

The husband was taken to a cashpoint in Plympton and forced to draw out £600 – but police had been called, and Brien handed it back.

Outside the court, investigating officer Det Con Paul Manifield from Ivybridge said: "Leslie Brien is the most evil man I have ever met."

Brien, 50 and from Clarence Place, Stonehouse, has previous convictions for similar offences in 2000 and 2004, one involving obtaining a £10,000 cheque from an elderly woman with dementia.

Prosecuting, Jason Beal said Brien had admitted two breaches of an Asbo imposed on June 3, 2008.

On March 19 last year Brien shouted foul abuse and threatened to kick in the door of a female neighbour who didn't know him and wouldn't let him into the communal entrance to their flats.

On July 19, paramedics were trying to take him to hospital against his will. He shouted and swore at them and, when police arrived, threatened to kill them.

In mitigation, it was said Brien suffered from mood swings and health problems including a duodenal ulcer, asthma, angina, psychotic episodes and depression.

Judge Paul Darlow sentenced Brien to a total of 98 weeks in jail, less 90 days served on remand, saying the fraud was most serious, with the elderly victims left shy and afraid.

Brien had upset a woman home alone and been 'a thorough nuisance' to the emergency services, he said.