Jail for fake cop who targeted elderly Swallownest man

John Carty (24), of no fixed address, targeted homes in Rotherham, Sheffield and Derbyshire while posing as a plain clothes police officer with a fake ID badge.

He called at a home in Catherine Avenue, Swallownest in March and stole cash from an elderly man, said a spokeswoman for South Yorkshire Police said.

He was found guilty of three dwelling burglaries and two attempted burglaries following a trial at Sheffield Crown Court last Friday (21).

Investigating Officer Susannah Taylor, of South Yorkshire Police, said Carty was shameless in targeting his victims.

“On each occasion, Carty attended his victim’s homes, posing as a plain clothes police officer and showing a fake ID badge,” she said.

“Once inside, he told them either he was investigating fraudulent activity or accused them of tax evasion.

“By doing this he gained information about how much cash was kept in their homes, which allowed him to steal large amounts of money there and then, or return later to do so.

“Carty preyed on vulnerable members of the community, using shameful tactics to intimidate and frighten his victims, before stealing large amounts of money.

“We are pleased with this sentence and hope it reassures people that crimes like these will not be tolerated.

“We’d also like to ask people to remind elderly family members that police officers would never ask to see your financial details on the doorstep.

“The best advice is not to let anyone into your home, unless you are expecting a visit from a legitimate company and always ask for identification.”

South Yorkshire Police said it did not have a custody image of Carty.