A thief who conned cash out of big-hearted residents with fake sob stories of ill relatives has been jailed after West Midlands Police linked him to a string of deceptions.
Gurtake Singh, from Scribers Lane in Hall Green, preyed on the goodwill of people in east Birmingham – predominantly elderly folk – by claiming he desperately needed taxi money to visit family members in hospital.
The 37-year-old pocketed cash ranging from £20 to £350 from people in Hall Green, Acocks Green, Moseley and Sparkbrook between June and 7 October last year.
On two occasions he drove pensioners – including an 80-year-old man he approached at a bus stop – to cash points when told they were short of money.
Detectives moved in to arrest Singh – who has past convictions for burglary, theft, fraud and selling counterfeit goods – on 13 October.
They found address details for a Shirley home scrawled on a piece of paper in his car – and it led them to another victim who’d parted with £70.
Singh admitted 11 counts of fraud, plus one charge of theft, and at Birmingham Crown Court on Monday (14 March) he was jailed for 37 months.
He was also ordered to pay back £1,552 compensation to his victims and was made subject of a Criminal Behaviour Order that bans him from cold calling addresses and from asking people in the street for cash. If caught breaching the order he faces more jail time.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Estelle Albutt, said: “Singh’s tactic tended to be knocking doors in a panicked state, sometimes crying, in order to gain entry…once inside he would tell stories of relatives being rushed to hospital and that he desperately needed taxi money to visit them.
“He would claim to be locked out of his house, or that a cash point had swallowed his bank card, and promise to return the money the following day.
“His victims described him as friendly and charming, even kissing them on the cheek and accepting drinks while engaging them in conversation. He was very plausible and preyed on elderly, trusting residents…and he showed no remorse for the people he conned.”
Unemployed Singh first struck in June in Hall Green where he convinced a 69-year-old man to hand over £30 and swiped a silver tankard on leaving.
On 31 August the brazen trickster introduced himself as “Mr Con” to an 84-year-old woman, also from Hall Green, and kissed her on both cheeks as she handed over £40 from her pension.
Another kind-hearted 84-year-old woman offered him £80 when he knocked the door of her Moseley home on September 23 – but Singh left with £100 after telling her “you might as well round it up”.
On October 1 Singh took £150 from an 82-year-old woman in Hall Green and returned the next day with a “fruit wreath” to say thank-you…before getting her to take out another £350 to help pay for a medical trip to India.
And six days later he persuaded an 80-year-old Hall Green man, who he approached at a bus stop, to withdraw £250 having lied about his mother being hospitalised following a fall.
DC Albutt, added: “On occasions he knew the names of the residents he approached and also names of neighbours; it was all calculated to offer them reassurance, that he was genuine, and would honour claims he’d return the money.
“Our advice would be never to let strangers into your home and certainly never hand over money, irrespective of what they’re telling you or any claims they are making."
Bradford Expands ‘New York’ Style Housing First Approach to Tackle Homelessness
Kensington Palace Marks 150th Birthday of Punjabi Princess and Suffragette Sophia Duleep Singh
SENDIVERSE Festival Unites Bradford Through Creativity and Inclusion
Appeal After Man Seriously Injured in Burnley Collision
Bradford Police Seize 93 Weapons as Knife Crime Falls
Multibillion Economic Vision for Leeds to Create 100,000 Jobs
Building at Bradford Royal Infirmary Renamed in Honour of Renowned Surgeon
Airedale Nurse Shortlisted for National Neonatal Award
Sowerby Bridge’s New Community Hub Opens to Praise
Manningham Housing Association Shortlisted for Three National Awards
Remix Saturdays
Legal Show
Bhangra Nights
Alim OnAir