A MAN who conned kind-hearted shoppers into giving him cash by pretending he needed money to get home has been handed an 18-month community order.

Peter Spiteri, of Moore Avenue in Bournemouth, targeted people in Poole and Bournemouth by telling them his car had broken down and he needed funds to get back to his hometown.

He pretended to be from towns including Exeter, Portsmouth, Leicester, Dawlish and Plymouth to scam cash from passers by as they walked in locations such as Bournemouth's Lower Gardens, Ringwood Road, the town's branch of Asda, Kinson Road, Sainsbury's in Alder Road, Poole, Turbary Retail Park and Total petrol station in Castle Lane.

The 31-year-old admitted 12 offences of fraud by false representation at Bournemouth Magistrates' Court on Thursday, April 16, as well as another 10 fraud crimes which were taken into consideration by the court.

As well as a community order, the fraudster was sentenced to a two-year criminal behaviour order when he returned to the court on Friday, June 5.

Magistrates heard that Spiteri changed his appearance and used various stories to con his victims, but was identified by witnesses before being charged by police with numerous fraud offences.

The result comes after a year-long investigation by Dorset Police involving over 50 reported crimes. The investigating officer worked in collaboration with Poole and Bournemouth councils.

Two community protection notices against Spiteri were put in place to attempt to prevent any further repeats of his behaviour but he continued to commit offences. A criminal behaviour order was also applied for during this case to prevent further frauds being carried out.

PC Lisa Harrison, of Kinson South Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “This has been a protracted investigation with multiple victims; some of whom were targeted on more than one occasion.

“The result is a reflection of the community working with Dorset Police to bring an end to this behaviour. It would not have been possible to bring about this case, without the commitment our victims gave us.

“I hope that the outcome brings reassurance to the local communities that they can rely on the Force to take action on these kind of matters and that every call can help.

“I also hope the sentence handed out today acts as a warning to others committing fraud offences in Dorset that such behaviour will not be tolerated.”