Drug addict Huddersfield conman struck 33 times

Jun 2 2009 by John Knighton, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A DRUG addicted conman who preyed on the good nature of Huddersfield residents has been jailed.

Omar Arshad, 32, of no fixed address, admitted to Bradford Crown Court that he had dishonestly obtained money from five householders between February and April this year.

Arshad, who had been released from prison on licence in November last year for similar offences, also admitted 28 further deception offences dating back to 2003.

It is estimated he conned more than £1,000 in total from his victims over the last six years.

Arshad, whose victims included several pensioners, would approach residents claiming to be a neighbour, often in a state of apparent panic, saying that he urgently needed cash.

He told one Huddersfield-based victim he needed the taxi fare to a hospital in Cheetham Hill, Manchester where his auntie had been taken following a road traffic incident.

In another incident he said he was about to receive a delivery and did not have any cash.

And in another he claimed a heating engineer was imminent and needed money to pay him.