Fraudster jailed for part played in 'awful scam'

A 'DESPICABLE' man posed as a police officer in a scam which fleeced a woman in her 90s of £27,000 in cash and jewellery.

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Sharmarke Ahmed, right, pretended to be a detective when he called at the victim's home.

He played a key part in a courier fraud which targeted the victim, who lives in the Malpas area.

The ruse began on March 5 this year when the victim received a call to her landline from a man who posed as a detective claiming to be from Chester.

The man told the victim there had been a gang of criminals operating in her area, and if she had any cash or jewellery at home he would arrange for a 'police officer' to collect it to keep it safe.

The victim explained she had £11,000 in cash and various items of jewellery, valued at £16,000.

The phone call lasted for many hours, during which a password was set up so the victim knew the man who was coming to collect the items was 'genuine'.