Duping the vulnerable: Shropshire conwoman Susan Weston 'targeted widowers at cemetery'

Today an appeal was made for other victims to come forward, as police revealed disturbing new evidence of how she targeted widowers at a cemetery.

Weston, 64, was last week jailed for more than four years for stealing at least £80,000 from vulnerable pensioner Christopher Dunning.

Mr Dunning, 76, was also elderly and vulnerable and had lost his wife. He trusted Weston and saw her as a friend and had initially doubted she had done anything wrong.

However, a check of his account showed cash withdrawals and a credit agreement in his name arranged by Weston. During the investigation the man's health deteriorated and he died. His case remains on file at court.

Since her arrest two years ago and her subsequent court appearances it has emerged that Weston may well have been deceiving other lonely and vulnerable widowers.

Inquiries are continuing about Weston's behaviour, including a man loaning her money to buy her a car which was not repaid.

Detective Sergeant Samantha Hammond, who leads the Adults At Risk Unit, said that the inquiry into Weston was hampered by people being fearful of repercussions and declined to be witnesses.

"In the light of her conviction these people may reconsider their position. There may be other elderly and lonely men within the community who have had some contact with Weston in recent years," she said.

An aspect of the inquiries is that Weston, who has lost two sons, Dean, 25, in a fall from a wall in 2008 and Nicky, 20, in a car crash 10 years earlier, may have used regular visits to Market Drayton cemetery to engage with grieving widowers who crossed her path and whom she saw as potential targets.

Weston, who was always well-groomed, was said to have an over-powering personality and was both manipulative and a liar.

Police have been unable to trace any previous criminal history for Weston, who originates from Stoke-on-Trent and whose maiden name was Houlding. DS Hammond said Weston's background was sketchy and she had been known by several other names, including Smith and Verdanian.

Apart from being a neighbour of Mr Dunning she has also lived at addresses in Bartons Lane and Abbey Way in Market Drayton.

Weston was known for flower arranging work and had set up a 'tanning service' based at a local hairdressing salon run by a friend of her family.

Such was Weston's character that the owner lost control of her business and became so distressed that she walked away enabling Weston to take over. The owner later received debt collection notices in relation to the business.

Weston also set up a business in the garage at Mr Dunning's home providing flowers for weddings and funerals and while helping herself to his money used it to purchase various beauty and hair products.

While £80,000 was mentioned during the court hearing, officers were only able to trace bank records going back 10 years.

Analysis of Mr Dunning's income over a 17-year period reveals figure may be closer to £170,000 which was used for Weston's own benefit. When the police inquiry started Mr Dunning's account was overdrawn.

DC Anthony Chester-McCabe led the inquiry, along with DC Pauline Newton, and they found cheque book stubs that showed over 300 cheques had been written for cash, regular Chinese meals, a pet cremation, beauty products, utility bills for Weston'a home, car insurances, car repairs and a trip to Spain.

"Weston had third party access to the account and she received text messages from the bank telling her when Mr Dunning's money had been paid in.

"She would regularly go to a cash point and empty the account – taking money just before midnight, and then again just after midnight, so the transactions appeared on separate days," she said.

DC Newton said Weston had Mr Dunning firmly in her clutches and he had been totally isolated for many years.

His health suffered, but he rarely saw his GP, and he was completely cut off from the outside world and over more than a dozen years only left his home on a handful of occasions.

When the abuse was uncovered following an anonymous tip-off in 2014 social services adult safeguarding officials and police found Mr Dunning living in squalid and disgusting conditions.

"His furniture was old and broken, there were only a few slats on his bed so the mattress sunk down. Rooms were damp and the carpets were old and worn and the kitchen had no floor cover," she said.

His immediate living conditions were improved by a donation from the Police Community fund and local businesses.

Mr Dunning never saw letters sent by the housing association offering various improvements to the property, including a new kitchen. Weston had replied saying all was okay and nothing needed doing.

"He was embarrassed and shocked about what happened to him. His life has now been turned round and transformed," she said.