A Hemel Hempstead fraudster has been jailed for more than three years, after scamming her victim out of £300,000 to fuel her drug use.

Amy Buckoke, of Howards Drive, Hemel Hempstead, was sentenced to three years and four months for fraud, after pleading guilty at St Albans Crown Court on April 12.

The 41-year-old became friends with her intended victim, and over the course of six years, coerced the them into funding her drug habit by spinning an elaborate web of lies, eventually draining their life savings.

"Buckoke deliberately befriended her victim and immediately began playing on their sympathies in order to extract money from them," said Detective Constable Claire Mann, from Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Serious Fraud and Cyber Unit.

"The deception carried on for several years, draining the victim’s life savings and would have continued if the fraud had not come to light.

"Fraudsters often have sad tales to tell, playing on peoples’ sympathies to win trust and make financial gain from their deception.

"If you believe you may have been a victim of a similar fraud – please report the details to Action Fraud."