THIS week’s Crime Files is based on five men who were ordered to give back thousands of pounds they stole from elderly victims.

The gang, sentenced at Worcester Crown Court, had been found guilty of stealing more than £200,000 from their victims in a telephone fraud scam.

50 victims were targeted, with the eldest being a 96 year-old, and 15 of these were persuaded to hand over money.

All the men were sentenced for their roles in the fraud in February of 2019 after being investigated for calling their victims claiming to be a police officer named “DC Morgan” and demanding payment.

The fraud offences took place across Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Cumbria, West Midlands, Avon and Somerset, Gloucestershire and Thames Valley in December 2019.

Rejwanul Islam, who was involved in co-ordinating the group and making direct contact with victims on the telephone, had previously been sentenced to six years imprisonment.

He was deemed to have benefitted by £213,000 for his role in the fraud. However, the court accepted Islam possessed only £1,500 and he was ordered to pay this within three months or face a default sentence of 14 days imprisonment.

Orders were also made against three brothers, Mohammed Nasir Miah, Mohammed Nawaz Miah and Mohammed Nazeem Miah, who had been acting as couriers, visiting victims across the country to collect cash and bank cards.

Mohammed Nawaz Miah had previously been sentenced to three years imprisonment.

He was also deemed to have benefitted by £213,000 for his role in the fraud but now had no assets available and was ordered to pay £1 within three months or face a default sentence of one day.

Mohammed Nazeem Miah had previously been sentenced to 30 months imprisonment.

He was deemed to have benefitted by £213,000 but only had £720 available, which he was ordered to repay within three months or face a sentence of 14 days.

Mohammed Kashem had previously been sentenced to four years imprisonment.

He was deemed to have benefitted by £213,000 for his role in the fraud but had no assets available and was ordered to pay £1 within three months or face a sentence of one day.

Mohammed Nasir Miah had previously been sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

He benefitted by £10,520 however only had £213 available and was ordered to pay the amount within three months or face seven days in prison.

West Mercia Police detective inspector Emma Wright said: “The defendants in this case took large amounts of money from vulnerable people by abusing the trust those victims have in the police, posing as officers who told the victims they must co-operate with a police investigation.

“These orders recognise the life-changing amounts that were taken from some of these victims.

“Although the amounts the defendants have been ordered to pay are based on what they have available as assets now, it is important to remember that the total amount they have benefitted remains outstanding for life until every penny has been repaid.

“If these defendants are found to have further assets at any time in the future, the amount they must repay will be raised, until they have paid back all that they took from the victims.

“Cases like this highlight the hard work and dedication by officers and staff across the forces involved, to bring these individuals responsible for serious and organised fraud to justice.

“This case has involved many hours of painstaking investigative work by both the criminal investigation teams and also by financial investigators.

“The convictions and subsequent confiscation orders in this case show that West Mercia Police will pursue offenders who directly target the elderly and vulnerable, including stripping them of any assets they have gained through crime.

“I hope this will deter other criminals who may be involved in these despicable offences, by showing that they will be convicted and have their ill-gotten gains removed.

“Being able to remove assets under Proceeds of Crime Act can then compensate the victims of the crime, bringing some comfort to those who were so cruelly targeted.”