A WOMAN has been arrested after a 99-year-old war veteran with dementia was tricked out of cash.

Jack Fell, who is set to celebrate his 100th birthday in October, was targeted at his home in Highercroft, Blackburn.

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A 37-year-old woman from Blackburn has been arrested on suspicion of fraud by false representation and has been released on bail pending further enquiries.

Police are investigating after his family said that a young woman came to his door with a note asking for money ‘for towels’.

Mr Fell, who lives alone with the assistance of carers’ help twice a day and daily visits from his family, handed over a £20 note, the only cash he had.

He told his family the young woman said she would take it to get it changed at a shop but did not come back.

Mr Fell is described by his daughter Valerie Garratty, 61, as ‘sprightly and independent’ but suffers from memory issues and dementia.

He is a World War II veteran who was a tank driver with the 17th/21st Lancers and saw active duty in North Africa and Italy.

He was a soldier for the cavalry regiment in India prior to the war and is old enough to remember many of his unit’s horses being replaced by tanks.

Mr Fell,who has three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, is a well known character in Blackburn, having spent his later career in the town working as a builder and bricklayer.

Mrs Garratty, who works at Greggs in Blackburn Mall shopping centre, said hearing that her beloved father had been taken advantage of had ‘knocked her sick’ and left her ‘furious’.

She said: “My dad is proud to live independently and gets a lot of support from his family, carers and neighbours.

“He’d asked me to get him some cash from the bank on Monday so I brought him a £20 note.

“When I visited his house on Tuesday evening I saw hand written notes asking for money.

“He told me a young woman had asked for cash promising to pay it back and he’d handed over the £20 as he’d no change.

“He said the woman had left a note promising to pay it back.

“It just made me so angry that his trusting good nature had been taken advantage of.

“Whoever did this is lowlife scum.

“He only returned home from a two-week stay in Royal Blackburn Hospital last week after a fall and now this.”

One note, which was hand written on one of Mr Fell’s bank statements, read, ‘I will give you back £20 tomorrow morning, I promise my love’.

Another, which was posted later, read: “Sorry about that, can you lend me £2 or £3 for towels till Friday. I will give you back please if you give me this, I will give you back all, I promise my love.”

Mrs Garratty shared the notes on Facebook and the post was shared 250 times.

She said: “In just a few hours five people had told me of similar incidents in the Highercroft and Infirmary areas of Blackburn.

“I think it’s important that people warn their elderly or vulnerable relatives and neighbours about this type of scam.”

Sgt Oliver Jones said Blackburn Neighbourhood policing team began investigating the matter as soon as they became aware of it.

He said: “I have spoken to Mrs Garratty and officers have been made aware of these reports.

“It’s shocking to me and other police officers that an elderly and vulnerable man has been treated in such a way.

“We have been made aware of other incidents of people going door to door asking for money.

“We will be making every effort to apprehend those involved.”

Highercroft ward councillor, Andy Kay, said: “This is an appalling act to take advantage of a very elderly man.

“Everyone in this neighbourhood will be appalled. I’m sure family members and neighbours will make sure their loved ones are aware of this type of terrible act.”

Family friend, Katie Smith, said: “It’s made me feel sick. How can people be so cruel. How many other vulnerable people will they be targeting as well.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101.