A woman who committed a series of doorstep frauds in which she asked for cab money to visit a sick family member, has been jailed for 36 weeks.

Sherene Simmons of Dalmally Road, Croydon, pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud by false representation and three counts of theft by shoplifting when she appeared at Croydon Crown Court.

The 21-year-old carried out a scam around Croydon and Bromley this year where she would knock on the door of the victim- usually an elderly or vulnerable person, and would ask them for money, telling them she needed to get a cab urgently to visit a sick family member in hospital.

Simmons would promise to pay the victim back, but in reality there was no relative in hospital and she did not pay the money back to the victims.

While some victims refused to give her money, others lost up to £80 in the scam.

Simmons was sentenced to 18 weeks imprisonment after admitting two counts of fraud and three counts of shoplifting.

She was also sentenced to 18 weeks in prison to run concurrently, after previously pleading guilty to six other counts of fraud. She was due to be sentenced for these on October 4, but failed to appear at court.

She was also automatically sentenced to a further 18 weeks in jail to run consecutively, after she was given a suspended sentence for similar fraud offences in Croydon in July.

TDC Rob Fletcher from Croydon CID said: "Several people got in touch with us this year regarding this scam and even whilst on bail pending her sentencing on 4 October, Simmons was out committing further offences.

"Simmons preyed on elderly and vulnerable people, taking full advantage of their good nature.We would urge all local residents to be extremely wary of cold callers."

 

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