Maidstone Woman Jailed for Scamming Vulnerable Pensioners
A Maidstone woman has been locked up for over two years after conning vulnerable pensioners with a fake police officer and housing warden scam.
Emma Fuggles Swindles Nearly £700
Emma Fuggles, 45, of Roseholme, Maidstone, tricked two elderly victims out of almost £700. The scam began when bank cards were stolen from their homes last year.
On the evening of 9 September 2022, one of Fuggles’ associates posed as a police officer at a Maidstone address. She told a man he was suspected of crimes and pressured him to hand over his bank cards and PINs, threatening arrest if he refused.
After gaining the cards, the bogus officer said she would call her sergeant. Meanwhile, Fuggles acted as getaway driver and withdrew £500 from a cash machine. The pair even returned the next day, wearing a “security” badge, but fled when the victim said he had contacted the real police.
Bold Second Theft Days Later
Just days later, at around 6:30am on 12 September, Fuggles sneaked into another elderly victim’s home pretending to be a housing officer. She stole the man’s bank card and swiftly withdrew over £150 in two cash machine transactions.
When she returned, the victim’s care assistant challenged her for ID. Fuggles claimed she’d get it from her car but instead drove off, making a clean getaway.
Justice Served at Maidstone Crown Court
Fuggles appeared at Maidstone Crown Court and pleaded guilty to two counts of theft, two counts of fraud by false representation, and burglary. On 10 February 2023, she was sentenced to two years and four months behind bars.
“Fuggles repeatedly exploited vulnerable members of the community for her own financial gain,” said DC Mark Beeching of Maidstone CID. “What’s worse, she brazenly returned to the scene of the crime to take further advantage of them. Fuggles is a prolific offender with a history of criminal activity, so it is right that she serves time behind bars after failing to amend her ways.”
