One of Hargadon's victims took this image of him
She recalls: " John turned up and although he looked rough around the edge he had the gift of the gab.
"He continually applies gentle pressure. He keeps in contact with you by phone.
"I feel stupid because I agreed to transfer the first lot of money over for the drive when I wasn't there. But then, when I came back some days later and he should have done it, it hadn't been done.
"But he came and said he had been really ill, which I thought was weird because his workmen should have done it, but he was convincing."