A fraudster has been jailed for a £6,000 spending spree after duping pensioners into handing over their bank cards.

Zac Lewis, 27, of Pixton Way, Forestdale, Croydon, used the cards of three elderly Sutton women to splurge on goods including two mobile phones.

Each of the victims, a 65-year-old of Pipewell Road, Carshalton, 81-year-old of St Mary Avenue, Wallington, and a 91-year-old of Longford Gardens, Sutton, received phone calls from someone claiming to work for their banks asking details about their accounts.

They were then visited at home by an unknown "courier" who collected their cards, which Lewis then fraudulently used to make purchases and cash withdrawals totalling £6,248 at banks and shops in Sutton and Croydon.

He attempted to make a further purchase of £615 but it was declined.

Lewis’s shopping spree came to an end after be bought two mobile phones for £1,195 from Cex in George Street, Croydon.

Police used CCTV footage from the shop and issued a public appeal to track him down.

He was was jailed for 20 months after pleading guilty to eight charges of fraud by false representation at Kingston Crown Court on Wednesday, June 1.

Police this week advising people to always be wary of telephone or doorstep callers asking for information about their bank cards.

A spokesman said: “Your bank would already have your account and PIN details and would never ask for your cards to be returned - and such requests are likely to be a scam to steal your money.

“If you are suspicious of anyone calling at your door, shut the door keeping them outside, and call police on 999.

“We would rather come out and check that everything is OK, than to find someone has become a victim of crime.”