Rob Kennedy

A gang impersonating police officers targeted at least 28 elderly people across North East England between December 2020 and January 2021, falsely claiming victims' bank cards or accounts had been compromised. One North Tyneside woman was persuaded to withdraw £7,500 from her savings, while other victims resisted or suffered severe anxiety. Zakariya Horvath, who used a burner phone and had previously absconded for three years, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and was sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court to 27 months in prison.