A "scheming and calculating" fraudster who conned a woman out of large sums of money must now pay back thousands of pounds.
Conman Stephen Bottomley befriended a vulnerable woman with Asperger's after her brother and parents died.
After he earned her confidence, he helped himself to £12,000 from her bank accounts and persuaded her to transfer properties she owned into his name.
Bottomley, of Westcliffe Road, Birkdale, claimed he was assisting the woman, who is in her 60s, with her financial affairs and the maintenance of her three properties.
Now aged 61, Bottomley initially denied the allegations, but just before his trial was about to start he changed his plea to guilty to a charge of fraud.
In a victim personal statement, it was heard how the victim, Michaela Hammersley, was "disgusted" with Bottomley, who had "shattered her trust in people" and "left her feeling scared and more vulnerable."
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Bottomley was handed a 12 months prison sentence, suspended for 18 months. He smiled and waved to the ECHO outside court after his suspended sentence allowed him to walk free last December.
Bottomley has now been given a confiscation order for £12,530.77, which he will have to pay in three months or face a year in prison.
Liverpool Crown Court then made a compensation order for £17,000 (this figure includes the above amount to the victim).
Detective Constable Mike Doyle, from Merseyside Police's Economic Crime Team, said: "Bottomley is a scheming and calculating individual who, further to his conviction last year, will now be forced to pay back this significant amount of ill-gotten money to his victim or face the prospect of jail.
"He targeted a vulnerable woman and betrayed her trust for his own financial gain, persuading her that he would take care of the maintenance of her properties and her financial affairs.
"Thankfully, Bottomley's crimes were brought to light and we were able to put him before the courts and safeguard the victim. Her properties have now rightfully been returned to her and she is receiving support. Hopefully the court's decision helps this process.
"I would like to reassure the public that if you believe you are the victim of any kind of fraud, help is available and all reports will be taken extremely seriously and investigated thoroughly."
If someone believes they have fallen victim to any kind of fraud contact Action Fraud via their website, or by calling 101 or the confidential Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.
