A LOVE rat jailed after swindling two vulnerable women of their life savings is back behind bars after conning another victim on release from prison.

Derek McMaster, aged 67, has a long history of deception and dishonesty offences stretching back 45 years, Liverpool Crown Court heard.

The cheating lorry driver duped women by posing as a policeman, army officer or claiming he was suffering from cancer.

He exploited his victims through lonely heart adverts in newspapers and proposed to two of them including a Runcorn gran.

Jailing him for three and a half years, the judge, Recorder David Turner, QC, said: “I have no doubt you are an accomplished confidence trickster who knows how to play on the emotions of women who are looking for the security of another partner.

“I’m concerned to protect vulnerable women who may be conned by you.”

McMaster, formerly of Falcon Hey, Fazakerley, admitted two offences of fraud involving taking money from the bank accounts of two women, one of whom he defrauded while he was on bail.

The court heard that he had previously duped kidney dialysis patient Margaret Dickinson.

The 64-year-old has renal failure, Chrohn’s disease and chronic arthritis.

Posing as a ‘perfect gentleman’, he moved into her home in Verdin Close, Winsford, became her carer and stole £3,150 from her account in 2012.

He then deceived Runcorn mum-of-two Jean Antrobus, aged 64, claiming to be a retired police officer.

The fraudster proposed, then used her bank card to steal £5,275.

The two victims only realised they were being two-timed as they prepared to give evidence at his trial in Warrington.

He changed his plea at the last minute and was sentenced to 20 months in January, 2013.

But on his release, McMaster, now of Verdin Close, Winsford, persuaded Margaret Dickinson to let him return to her home.

He again became her carer but was simultaneously using two bank cards she gave him to make a string of unauthorised transactions amounting to more than £10,000.

These were mainly on online purchases through Amazon and Paypal.

He also targeted another woman, retired Kathleen Williams, from Southport, whose husband had recently died from pancreatic cancer.

McMaster wheedled his way into her affections by claiming he too was suffering from the same condition and then proposed to her within a month of meeting her.

He falsely claimed he was due to receive a lump sum of £32,000 from the army and tried to obtain her bank details so he could deposit it in her account.

By the time Mrs Williams realised his deceit, he had stolen around £1,000 from her, most of which he spent on online purchases.

Brendan Carville, defending, said McMaster accepted these were “mean and despicable offences” which had “caused great embarrassment and upset to the victims, who are vulnerable people.”