‘Start a fundraiser for the poor guy!’ Families call for crowdfunder for disabled pensioner, 88, targeted by ‘gutter scum’ crook who laughed as he took his £1,100 as he tried to help him

• Andrew Merritt asked 88-year-old victim if he could spare a couple of pounds 
• The kind pensioner took out his wallet and gave the 34-year-old £3.10
• Merritt was jailed for four years for the sick crime committed in Nottingham 
• Concerned people are urging a fundraiser be set up to help the man recover
• Are you the pensioner in the incident or related? [email protected]

Concerned families have called for a crowdfunder to help a disabled pensioner who was targeted by a ‘gutter scum’ crook who him on a mobility scooter of £1,100 after he offered him some spare change.

Andrew Merritt, 34, asked the 88-year-old victim if he could spare him £2 and the kind pensioner took out his wallet to try and help him out, actually giving him £3.10.

But CCTV then showed Merritt – who has previous convictions relating to 118 offences – hugging the man before grabbing his wallet and walking away smiling.

As the elderly man pleaded for it back, the thug counted the large wad of £20 banknotes from inside the wallet. He then kept the cash and dumped the wallet nearby.

And now people are urging a fundraiser to be set up for the victim on social media, with others pledging to donate if one were set up to help him.

Andrew Merritt, 34, robbed £1,100 from an 88-year-old disabled man. He had 188 previous convictions

The moment Andrew Merritt took the elderly man’s wallet despite the kind pensioner giving him £3.10

The kind 88-year-old pensioner begs for his £1,100 back while Merritt counts out the wad of notes he has just taken

People are urging a fundraiser to be started for the victim on social media, with others pledging to donate if one were set up to help him

Local Michael Brown commented on Facebook: ‘I hope someone had a fundraiser for the old guy – that’s a lot of money for most pensioners.’

Graham Fisher pledged to donate if one were set up, saying: ‘If there is, I’ll give £100.’

Commenting on Nottinghamshire Police’s post about the story Lester Staples said: ‘I wish there was a Gofundme page for the poor chap, I’d definitely help him get his money back!’

On X, formerly Twitter, one man branded Merritt ‘gutter scum’, and asked: ‘Did the elderly man get his money back from this gutter scum?’

Another concerned reader asked: ‘Did the victim get his money back and/or compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority?

‘Has anyone checked to make sure he had enough money for food, etc, after this awful event?’ 

Nottingham Crown Court heard Merritt stole £1,100 in the robbery which happened in Potter Street, Worksop, Notts., on August 1 this year.

Witnesses went to the elderly man’s aid before calling the police.

Footage shows Merritt stopping in a doorway of a house where he changed his T-shirt in a bid to avoid detection.

Merritt was arrested after a police officer recognised him from the CCTV footage.

‘Gutter scum’: Andrew Merritt was slammed for robbing an elderly man by people concerned if he will ever see his money returned

Merritt walks off with the disabled pensioner’s cash with a grin plastered across his face

The thief ignored the pensioner’s pleas to return the substantial sum of cash as he walked off and dumped the wallet 

Bodycam footage shows Merritt being arrested as he lay on his bed six days after the robbery.

During a police interview, Merritt denied stealing the money, insisting the elderly man had agreed to purchase a bike from him.

Merritt, of Cheapside, Worksop, later admitted robbery and on Wednesday he was jailed for four years at Nottingham Crown Court.

He was also given a Criminal Behaviour Order banning him from Workshop town centre for four years and ordered to pay a £228 victim surcharge.

The court heard he has previous convictions relating to 118 offences, including theft, shoplifting, assault, breaching court orders and burglaries.

Following the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Nick Hall, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: ‘Merritt’s actions were cowardly in the extreme.

‘He preyed on a vulnerable man knowing he would not be able to stop him making off with his money.

‘When he asked for £2, the elderly victim gave him that and more, out of the goodness of his heart.

Merritt is videoed changing his shirt in an attempt to avoid detection from the police after stealing from the defenceless old man 

Merritt, who had 118 previous convictions, was found by police six days after he committed the shocking robbery

The moment shameless thief, Merritt, is caught by police in his bed after stealing over £1,000 from an elderly man in a mobility scooter

‘It was a kind act of generosity and so it was staggering that Merritt repaid the gentleman’s empathy by robbing him of such a vast amount of money.

‘It was an extremely cruel crime and I am pleased Merritt has been made to pay for his appalling actions.

‘I hope the outcome at court provides the victim with some comfort in knowing that Merritt can no longer harm anybody in our communities.

‘I’d also like to thank the witnesses who came forward with information so that we could put Merritt behind bars.’

Source: Read Full Article