Fraudster threatened to chop victim's hands off

Frankie Maughan had his sentence increased by the Court of Appeal

A fraudster who left a vulnerable man fearing he would die after taking over his home has had his jail term increased by the Court of Appeal.

Frankie Maughan had been originally sentenced to 20 months in prison at Warwick Crown Court in June, after pleading guilty to robbery and fraud.

He visited his victim's home in Rugby, Warwickshire, on a daily basis and threatened to cut off his hands with a machete unless he gave him access to his bank card.

Maughan, 22, spent more than £3,600 of the victim's cash during a two-month period to pay for food, hotels and taxi journeys, the court heard.

The Attorney General's Office (AGO) referred the defendant's sentence to the appeal court, arguing it was unduly lenient and did not take into account the "serious psychological harm" his victim had suffered.

Lawyers told the court the man in his 50s, who lives with mobility issues, had also seen his home become "extensively soiled" by Maughan's dog.

They said Maughan's targeting of the victim had left him so scared "he thought he might die" and he had left a note with his sister's details on it.

'Throes of drug addiction'

Nick Devine, representing Maughan, agreed it was a "light" sentence, but also said it was not one that was "unduly, or excessively, lenient".

He added Maughan had been between 19 and 20 years old at the time of the offences and in the "throes of drug addiction".

Judges ultimately increased Maughan's total sentence to four-and-a-half years.

Warwickshire Police welcomed the extension, saying Maughan had committed a "horrific attack on a vulnerable man in his own home".