A fraudster who escaped to Australia to escape a jail term is finally behind bars - 13 years after stealing £100,000 from a vulnerable elderly man.

In February 2002 John Birtles posed as a police officer and knocked on the door of a terrified 80-year-old man in All Saints Road, Wimbledon, who was then forced to hand over his bank details and repeatedly driven to banks to withdraw the cash over the following week.

John, 36, and his brother Mark, who is still wanted by police, are believed to have worked together on the ‘horrific’ scheme where the victim was effectively kidnapped for a week.

The cash was never recovered and the victim died a short time later - never living to see his captors jailed.

The brothers were arrested four months later and charged with numerous counts of burglary and kidnap relating to the incident in and four similar offences in the home counties areas.

John was given bail and skipped the country to set up a new life in Queensland, Australia. His brother also vanished and has never been found.

In June 2003, John was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison in his absence and became a wanted man.

Nine years later, in 2012, he was tracked to Australia by the Met police following a tip-off. He was arrested for immigration offences by the authorities there but released because Britain had no extradition treaty with Australia, police said.

He was finally tracked down in Nottingham earlier this month after a routine review of the case by officers.

On Friday, June 12, Birtles, of Almners Caravan Site in Almners Lane, Chertsey, appeared at last before a judge at Kingston Crown Court where he was jailed for five years for kidnap, two counts of theft from a person and conspiracy to defraud.

He will be sentenced separately next month for absconding.

His brother Mark is still wanted by police, who are appealing for his family to come forward so they can notify them of John’s arrest.

Detective inspector Dan O’Sullivan of Wimbledon CID said: "The work shown in this case again evidences the commitment, drive and courage Merton CID officers give in pursuing those involved in burglary and violent crime.

"John Birtles has evaded capture for 13 years however the persistence to trace and arrest him has proved unquestionable.

"The same commitment will be shown for his brother, Mark Birtles who remains wanted for this horrific crime. I would ask members of the public to assist us with any information about his whereabouts."

The police team’s "fantastic work" was praised by Merton borough commander Chief Superintendent Stuart Macleod in his weekly bulletin last week.