A BRAZEN conman stole hundreds of pounds and a bank card from a mayoress as she was targeted at her home.

The man went to the home of Colin and Sheelagh Riley, in Daws Heath Road, Thundersley and demanded the mayoress hand over the Barclays bank card.

The vile conman told Mrs Riley, Castle Point mayoress, her husband directed him to collect the card.

He then stole £300 from the bank account.

Mayor Mr Riley said they want to warn others about the incident.

He said: “My wife received a phone call on our home telephone advising her a man called Mr Sterling will calling shortly to collect her Barclay bank card which he needed urgently as I was tied up in a meeting.

“Within five minutes he was at the front door with an envelope with Mrs Riley written on it and a Marks and Spencer card inside.

“Sheelagh was completed fooled by the call and the man at our front door and gave him the card.”

The man is described as white, tall, aged in his midtwenties with brown hair.

He also had a distinctive camel coloured overcoat.

Mr Riley added: “When we reported it, the thief had used a nearby bank cash machine to withdraw £300 using her pin number.

“The card was cancelled, as this was a fraudulent withdrawal the bank have already refunded the £300.

“Sheelagh soon realised it was a scam and only gave him the card because I’ve been doing her banking during her recovery from a major operation.

He said his wife feels such a fool over the incident and they want people to be aware. It happened last Friday.

Anyone with any information should call Essex Police on 101 with reference 42/30143/20.