A husband and wife undertakers scammed elderly victims out of almost £23,000 after convincing them to sign up for pre-paid funeral schemes . Gary Trevett , 54 , and Fiona Langdown , 53 , preyed on nine victims after agreeing to make funeral arrangements , then betraying their trust . Their con made customers believe they had paid for a complete service which would take care of their funerals - but the cash was then used to save the couple 's failing business . Gary Trevett and Fiona Langdown ( pictured outside the funeral directors ) conned victims out of almost £23,000 . The pair sold pre-paid plans on the basis that the customer 's payment believed to be placed securely into one of two trust funds . But Southampton Crown Court heard that between October 2009 and March 2012 , money was siphoned off to save the couple 's failing business . The con was only uncovered when former employee Linda Connolly started looking through the accounts at Langdown and Trevett Independent Funeral Directors in Woolston , Southampton , after taking over the failing business in July 2012 . The full extent of their con was revealed after Langdown , of Southampton , was found guilty of defrauding four victims and handling the stolen cash of another three . Trevett ( right ) admitted defrauding all nine victims , but a jury at Southampton Crown Court found Langdown ( left ) guilty of defrauding four victims and handling the stolen cash of another three . She provided literature to some of the customers and helped Trevett to retain some of the money , by receiving it into their bank account and concealing the fact that it was never paid into the trust fund . But it was Trevett who would befriend customers and spend hours helping them to plan funeral details . Victims described him as a 'charmer ' who they felt they could trust and said they were left feeling gullible and angry . Trevett , also from Southampton , had already admitted defrauding all nine people - including a friend , who was deteriorating quickly with dementia . Investigations revealed that when customers were handing over money to pay into secure funeral trusts , it was instead being pocketed by the business . The court was told how Langdown and Trevett became equal partners in the business , based in Southampton , in April 2005 . Frank and Shirley Decicco ( pictured ) were conned by funeral directors Langdown and Trevett . Langdown put in the money with her then-husband while Trevett brought in his experience as an undertaker but she divorced and went on to marry Trevett in 2012 . One of the pair 's victims , Kathleen Crook , 74 , from Netley Abbey , Hampshire , paid the pair £2,485 to make sure her husband John had the funeral he deserves , should the worst happen . But instead she has been left penniless and on antidepressants due to Trevett 's betrayal . When she started questioning the plan Trevett reassured her , even kissing her on the cheek , but soon the devastating truth was revealed - all the money was gone . She said : ' I am a bit gullible . But I am an old lady and I just did n't think anyone could do something like this . He seemed such a nice little man . I really trusted him . ' She added : ' I am absolutely devastated and feel so betrayed . All that I had is gone . 'It is such a wicked thing to do . For me justice will never be done because I wo n't get my money back . ' Langdown told the court that she had no knowledge of her husband conning people , but jurors did not believe her . She was cleared of charges relating to two victims . Detective Sergeant Ricky Dhanda , from Hampshire Constabulary , has been determined to get justice for the victims . He said : 'Trevett and Langdown preyed on their victims when they were at their most vulnerable . 'They betrayed the trust of the elderly who had so carefully saved and planned for when they were no longer here , to spare their own loved ones the heartache . 'The manner in which their trust was manipulated for financial gain is a sickening thought . ' Langdown and Trevett will be sentenced next month .
Gary Trevett , 54 , and Fiona Langdown , 53 , preyed on nine elderly victims . Their con made customers believe they had paid for a complete service . But their payments were then used to save the couple 's failing business . Trevett admitted defrauding nine people - including a friend with dementia . Langdown was found guilty of defrauding three victims and handling the stolen cash of another four .