A CALLOUS fraudster who conned an elderly woman out of thousands of pounds by posing as a police officer has been jailed.

Basildon Crown Court heard Abul Sadruddin, 28, and accomplices had targeted two elderly victims from a Canvey caravan park.

The victims were called by someone posing as a police officer and told their bank accounts were compromised.

They were instructed to take out £5,000 each and hand the money to Sadruddin, who was posing as a courier.

On December 4, one victim took out £2,500 cash and handed the money over to Sadruddin at the caravan park.

The next day, Sadruddin returned to the park to collect the remaining cash but was stopped by security.

He was ‘nervous’ as security took his details from his provisional driving licence before he left the premises.

Judge Samantha Cohen said: “These were very nasty offences targeting vulnerable older people and in one case successfully stealing a significant amount of money.”

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The victim said she was reluctant to go out at all and rarely left her mobile home site as she was worried Sadruddin would return to her home.

She added she is constantly shaking and the ordeal has had a real effect on her mental health

Sadruddin, of Menteath House, Dod Street, London, first appeared in court in November 2020 due to pandemic delays.

His case was further delayed because of the British Barrister’s industrial action in late 2022.

He was convicted of two counts of fraud for offences that took place on December 4 and 5 2019.

Judge Cohen added: “You played a significant and essential role in these offences, you impersonated a police officer and were prepared to do so again.

“It must have been obvious to you that the victim was a vulnerable old lady.”

Sadruddin jailed for seven months and will serve half of his sentence in custody.

He is required to pay £2,500 compensation to the victim.