A man who preyed on elderly and vulnerable people across Sussex and the South East has been jailed for a string of fraud offences totalling around £100,000.
James Trodd, 30, of no fixed address, was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison at Lewes Crown Court on Tuesday, 16 April. His sentencing followed a lengthy investigation by Sussex Police under Operation Glasshouse, which linked multiple fraud cases spanning from September 2022 to August 2023.
Trodd – who also used the aliases James Harland and Martin Ashbrook – had been wanted for more than two years before he handed himself in following a Crimewatch appeal.
Police said Trodd systematically targeted victims by befriending them, posing as a tenant, or pretending to be a customer, before exploiting their trust to access their bank accounts. He fraudulently obtained credit cards, made unauthorised money transfers, hired vehicles, and even opened new bank accounts in his victims’ names — leaving many in financial hardship and arrears.
Detective Sergeant Paul Elrick, who led the investigation, said:
“This was a protracted and complex investigation into James Trodd, a serial fraudster, who preyed on the elderly and vulnerable.
My heartfelt thanks go to the victims, witnesses, Enable, Nationwide, and the banks involved. The police will always work with banks to target those who prey on elderly victims to fund their own greedy lifestyle.”
The judge described Trodd’s crimes as “the worst example of fraud he had seen.”
Trodd was charged with 17 counts of fraud by representation. His conviction marks a significant result for Sussex Police’s ongoing efforts to tackle financial crimes against vulnerable members of the community.
Anyone concerned about fraud or financial exploitation can seek advice and support via Action Fraud or their local police force.
