VICTIMS of a conman who ruined Christmas for hundreds of children and pensioners have slammed the "diabolical" jail sentence handed to him.

Members of the Coldharbour Tenants' and Residents' Association are angry former chairman David Cooper could spend just six months behind bars.

Fuming members of the Mottingham-based association, who were duped out of more than £6,000 by Cooper, say they feel like they have been "robbed again".

Cooper was jailed for 12 months at Woolwich Crown Court last week, after he admitted four counts of obtaining property by deception.

But under current rules the 57-year-old, who was convicted of the same offence in 1990, is likely to serve only half his term.

Association social secretary Richard Green described the sentence as "a disgrace".

He said: "We are all gutted. This man has ripped off kids and pensioners.

"In six months he will be out of prison ready to rip off his next victim because that is what he has done all his life."

Father-of-two Mr Green, of Kingsley Wood Drive, Mottingham, added: "We feel like we have been robbed twice now. It is diabolical."

Cooper claimed to be a well- connected entrepreneur who had links to a toy manufacturer called A Napier. The fantasist conned residents into handing over £2,010 and then made out seven cheques to Mr Napier.

Cooper, of Barham Road, Chislehurst, promised to use the money to buy a toy for every child on the Coldharbour Estate as a Christmas present.

But the so-called toy manufacturer did not exist and Cooper was merely using the money to pay off his own debts.

The conman pocketed a further £1,050 which he said would pay for an old-time musical evening for pensioners.

In total Cooper, who also claimed to have links with supermarket mogul Sir Ken Morrison, conned members out of £6,057.

Sentencing Cooper, Judge Phillip Norris said his guilty pleas meant his sentence had been cut by a third.

He added: "You obtained money by lies and cheating.

"This sort of thing sticks in the throat of any right-thinking member of society."