A CHEF who conned holiday savings worth thousands of pounds from a pensioner to fuel his cocaine addiction has vowed to pay the money back.

Gino Gibbs, 34, convinced the 69-year-old woman to give him £7,000 that she had saved up to use on a “holiday of a lifetime” to Australia.

He told her it was to pay debts after the woman, who was in a relationship with Gibbs’ father, had initially given him money to open a pub. In reality, the cash went straight to drug dealers in order to fund his addiction.

In total he conned £6,700 out of the woman between June and November last year as well as using her credit card to buy a Playstation 4 and GHD hair straighteners, both of which he later sold.

In the end, the victim was able to go on the trip but was forced to borrow money from friends.

Gibbs, of Daggons Road, Alderholt, has said he feels ashamed for taking the money.

In a statement his sister said the drugs had turned him into a “cheat and a liar” and forced her to cut off communication with him.

However, in the six months since the fraud took place he has undertaken a “complete change”. Gibbs is now clean from drugs and has a job working in a pub as a chef.

Judge Richard Parkes ordered Gibbs to pay back £600 a month in compensation, saying he only avoided prison so that he could pay back the money he owed.

“It is a very sad thing to happen to somebody who wanted to spend her retirement money on such a special trip,” he said.

“This offending is out of character and, as so often, is caused by a cocaine habit. But I am pleased to hear that you have got yourself clean.

“You deliberately targeted her because she was an elderly lady – a woman who was open to your lies.

“Why I’m not sending you to prison is the main priority is this lady getting her money back.”

Gibbs was sentenced to 20 months in prison suspended for two years, told to do 100 hours unpaid work and complete a drug rehabilitation programme. If he fails to pay back the money he faces spending six months in jail.