Grandson Jailed for £64,000 Fraud on Grieving Grandfather in South Shields

Aidan Frier, 26, from South Shields, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for defrauding his grieving grandfather of over £64,000 through an elaborate scam spanning more than three years. Frier falsely claimed to have a high-level job with a water company and fabricated photographs and bank documents to support his lies, convincing his grandfather to provide money for fake training courses, tuition fees, and accommodation. He further manipulated his grandfather into taking out a £4,000 loan that went directly to him. The fraud unraveled when the grandfather, suspicious of further financial demands, consulted his bank, which exposed the falsified documents. The victim expressed profound emotional devastation, stating that the betrayal was more heartbreaking than the death of his wife, leaving him financially ruined and unable to trust his grandson again. The court described Frier's actions as "mean, nasty and cynical," highlighting the profound breach of familial trust and the severe impact on the pensioner's life.