Caister con victim's warning

A CON artist has left a Caister woman hundreds of pounds out of pocket.

When a desperate looking man with a South African accent entered a Yarmouth dental practice asking to see a fellow national, employee Lynn Henderson was sympathetic.

Ms Henderson said: “When he came in he looked uncomfortable about something and upset so I asked him what was wrong.”

It was after some hesitation that the man, who is tanned, around 6ft 4 ins tall and well built with a shaved head, told her his tale.

Claiming he had been the victim of a robbery, he spoke with a thick accent about the fact he had his bag, passport and money stolen on a train between Cambridge and Yarmouth.

“He said he didn't know what to do, and that the lady at a nearby B&B he had booked a room in wouldn't let him stay there so I agreed to lend him some money.”

After lending him �100 on their first meeting on June 3, the mother-of-three then lent him another �100 the next day before paying for two nights at the B&B.

However, begging texts to her phone continued, and it was after a cancelled meeting with him to pay back the money that her suspicions were further aroused.

“I went to where he was staying, and asked to check his room to see if he was still staying there- he had left her owing two nights and had never booked originally.”

Mrs Henderson says she is no idiot and emphasised the extent of the man's back story, which she said was complete and convincing, as well as the fact she thought she had to coax the information out of him.

“His story was polished. I just want to spread the word about this man as it's about protecting other people and making sure other don't go through what I did.”

A police spokesman advised people to take care if dealing with someone they don't know or have never met before, and recommended people remain vigilant.