THEY told their elderly victims that their money was going into a funeral trust fund to help protect their families when they died.

But instead the cash was being stowed away in their own bank account, being used to prop up a failing business.

Undertaker Gary Trevett, 54, is today behind bars beginning a 16-month sentence after he admitted nine counts of fraud.

His partner-in-crime and former wife Fiona Langdown, 53, narrowly avoided prison after being convicted by a jury of defrauding four victims and handling the stolen cash of another three.

Trevett wept as he was taken to the cells at Winchester Crown Court after Judge Richard Parkes QC criticised the “mean-spirited” scheme the pair ran at Langdown and Trevett Independent Funeral Directors in Woolston, Southampton.

In total he and Langdown worked together to fleece nearly £23,000 from trusting customers who just wanted their money kept safe until they died.

As reported by the Daily Echo, the uncovering of the scheme sparked horror among concerned former customers who were concerned they may have been victims of the duo.

Sentencing Trevett, of Canberra Towers, Weston, Southampton, Judge Parkes said: “This took place over a period of some time and there were several victims involved.

“This was exacerbated because the victims were all elderly but it's been suggested on your behalf that I can properly suspend the sentence.

“In a case such as this involving such mean-spirited defrauding of people who could not afford to be defrauded, an immediate prison sentence is inevitable.”

Langdown, of Wingate Drive, Southampton, was handed a three-month suspended sentence in light of evidence that she showed genuine remorse and had paid about £3,000 back to victims of the scam.

The business has since collapsed and Langdown is unemployed and living with her parents.

Judge Parkes said: “He was very much the dominant figure of the two of you and you were in his thrall.

“You were a dedicated and extremely good funeral director and you were much admired by people for whom you conducted good funerals.”

Langdown will also be supervised for 12 months and was ordered to carry out 100 hours unpaid work and pay an £80 victim surcharge.

In an interview with the Daily Echo, Trevett broke down in tears as he told of his shame over the wicked con and admitted that he is petrified of going to jail.

Daily Echo:

He is one of the funeral directors behind a heartless scam that preyed upon the elderly and vulnerable, fleecing them out of thousands of pounds which they paid out to plan their own funerals.

But the scammer revealed he will accept whatever punishment he is given and wants to apologise to his nine victims, some of whom he admits were his friends.