A CONMAN who posed as a church official to trick Penzance worshippers out of money has been sent to prison after admitting 69 distraction burglaries and fraud offences against elderly victims across the country.

Mark Rhodes, aged 25, of no fixed abode was arrested in Ipswich in May, after his photograph appeared in the Most Wanted section on BBC television's Crimewatch programme.

He was sentenced to three years for fraud and five years for burglary to run concurrently. The offences took place nationwide and included seven offences in Cornwall and Devon, including Truro, Penzance, Perranporth, Totnes, Ivybridge, Torquay and Newton Abbott.

While in Penzance, Rhodes tricked an elderly Gulval man into handing over £500, which he had been saving for a special occasion.

Det Sgt Tess Adams, of Penzance Police, said he claimed to have fallen on difficult times. She said: "In Penzance he got £500 from his elderly victim.

"In Truro he managed to get a cash point card off his victim and went off with £300. He visited Perranporth on the same day and told a lady he had fallen on difficult times but he didn't get anything.

"But we had a witness in Penzance who alerted us after seeing his picture in the national press."

Investigation

The investigation was led by Gloucestershire Constabulary and Rhodes first appeared at Stroud Magistrates' Court on June 3, where he pleaded guilty to eight distraction burglaries, and eight frauds.

However he later admitted a further 53 offences, all of which were taken into consideration by the sentencing judge at Gloucester Crown Court on Wednesday, June 24.

His offences were committed over a two-year period between 2007 and his arrest in 2009, and took place in 18 police force areas.

The court heard that Rhodes had two methods. In the first he knocked on doors in a given area, claiming a link to the local vicar or other member of the church community, and asked householders to lend him money.

He was given loans varying from £10 to £400 and on occasions would accompany the householder to a cashpoint while they withdrew money. In other cases he knocked on doors, claiming to have broken down and asking to use a phone to call for help. He would then distract the householder before stealing cash, bank cards and other similar items.

Rhodes said: "I regret what happened and I was totally out of control."

Speaking after the case, DC Leigh Bickerdyke of Gloucestershire Constabulary said Rhodes preyed on vulnerable people. "This type of offence is greatly under reported due to the nature of the offence and the vulnerability of the victims that are targeted. We would, however, encourage anyone targeted in this way to contact police and would also remind homeowners to be on their guard against similar offenders and never to allow anyone they don't know into their home unless they have a legitimate reason to be there."