An estate agent has been sentenced to prison for five years after admitting 13 counts of fraud.

His victims were elderly people who had trusted Scott, 61, director of Donald Scott Land and Estate Agents in Wigton, for many years.

Altogether, the once-prominent and respected local estate agent defrauded them out of £450,000.

Scott had acted as their land agent and, as his business fell into debt, forged their signatures to get their land entitlements.

On Friday, he was sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court, where Judge Peter Davies said he was “devious and selfish”.

The judge said that his victims’ lives and health had been affected. The court heard that two had lost their life savings.

The court also heard that Scott was of previously good character, had not offended before and was unlikely to do so again.

His firm’s For Sale signs had been familiar in the area.

He sat with his head bowed, speaking only to confirm his name.

After the sentencing, Detective Constable Duncan Watson of Cumbria Police said that his elderly victims had had “the utmost trust in him”.

He said: “They have lost huge sums of money by investing in Scott who was using their monies for his own benefit and to try and sustain his failing business.

“Scott was declared bankrupt on March 4, 2015.

“This remains in force. The police will now apply to the court’s for a confiscation order against Scott.

“The police would like to thank the witnesses in this case for coming forward and being prepared to give evidence.

“Fraud can be an embarrassing crime, many victims choosing to take it on the chin rather than be exposed as a victim.

“This case highlights that those we trust the most can often be fraudsters. We hope that this sentence will act as a deterrent to any potential fraudsters.”