£40,000 Spending Spree: Police Impersonator Jailed for Targeting Vulnerable Pensioners

Adam Everett, a 27-year-old man, posed as a police officer to steal bank cards from a dozen elderly victims, resulting in a £40,000 spending spree at multiple high-end stores. Butters' scheme involved convincing victims that they had already been targeted by scammers, and that he needed to collect their bank cards to check for fingerprints. He was eventually arrested and charged with nine counts of fraud by false representation. In a Liverpool Crown Court hearing, Butters' lawyer argued that he was a vulnerable individual who had become involved in the scheme to pay off debts, and that he regretted his actions. The court sentenced Butters to 33 months in prison and imposed a 10-year restraining order, banning him from contacting some of his victims.

Key Takeaways:

• Butters formed part of a team of conmen who targeted at least 12 vulnerable pensioners across the country, convincing them to hand over bank cards and other financial documents.
• He used a £40,000 spending spree to purchase goods from high-end stores, including Selfridges, John Lewis, Apple, and Currys.
• Butters was described as the "leg man" of the operation, responsible for collecting bank cards from the victims after the scam had been set up over the phone.
• He stole jewellery worth nearly £10,000 from one couple, including wedding rings that had belonged to the wife's late parents.
• Butters had four previous convictions for seven offenses, including possession of heroin and cocaine.
• He was sentenced to 33 months in prison and handed a restraining order banning him from contacting some of his victims for 10 years.
• Merseyside Police's Detective Inspector Paul Gillies praised the courage of the victims who came forward and stopped Butters, but warned that there may be others who do not feel able to do so due to confusion, embarrassment, or shame.

Statistics:

• £40,000: The total amount spent by Butters at high-end stores.
• 12: The number of vulnerable pensioners targeted by Butters and his accomplices.
• 9: The number of counts of fraud by false representation that Butters was charged with.
• 33 months: The prison sentence handed to Butters.
• 10 years: The length of the restraining order banning Butters from contacting some of his victims.

Sources:

• "£40,000 Spending Spree: Police Impersonator Jailed for Targeting Vulnerable Pensioners." _Liverpool Echo_.
• "Scammers targeted by police after convincing 12 pensioners to hand over cards." _Liverpool Echo_.
• "Jailed: Man who posed as police officer to steal £40,000 from pensioners." _Liverpool Echo_.