Shoppers conned by charity fakers

SHOPPERS are being duped into handing over cash to Romanian women and children posing as charity collectors.

The women are roaming the streets of Manchester with clip boards and fake UNICEF donation forms.

The latest Romanian to appear in front of the city’s magistrates, Iuliana Costea, of Kingsbridge Road, Oldham, was one of five or six women — and a girl of 14 — who approached a woman in her car in a city-centre car park in January.

Kerry Bell, prosecuting, said that the woman had felt intimidated and eventually handed over £5 to Costea.

Miss Bell added: “This is an unpleasant scam and an increasing problem in the city.”

Shortly afterwards, the woman saw Costea (20), who was heavily pregnant, and the girl arrested and she went to the police.

Mother-of-two Costea admitted a charge of fraud and was given an electronic tag keeping her indoors between 7pm and 7am.

Disapproval
Chairman Dr Richard Daniels told her: “This is a very serious matter. It was deliberately planned and you were part of a group. A young woman was intimidated.

Damian Zelazowski, defending, said Costea had been short of money and unable to buy things for herself.

Costea, who has been in the UK for three years, was given a caution last June for theft. She was ordered to pay £5 compensation. The court made no order for costs after hearing that she and her husband were on benefits.

The full version of this story is available in tonight’s print and eChron editions