Doorstep conman faked heart attack

A thief conned his way into a pensioner's home by pretending to have a heart attack on her doorstep.

Laura Roberts, 62, had tried to get rid of the phoney salesman when he first called at her home in Matson, Gloucester.

But she took the chain off the door when she saw the man fall to his knees and clutch his chest.

Once inside the house, the man demanded she buy £30 worth of tea towels - before helping himself to £120 from a drawer when her back was turned.

He has repaid my kindness by cheating and stealing - I still feel really shaken up

Laura Roberts

Mrs Roberts, a mother of three, said: "He's an evil man and he's got to be caught.

"The man started talking to me about what he had for sale and then he grabbed his chest and fell to the floor.

"I offered him my angina spray and he took it, turned round, and sprayed it.

"I really thought he was going to die and I just wanted to help him.

"He seemed to get a bit better and I said I didn't want anything from him - but I had taken the chain off the door and he just came in and started laying out everything he had for sale on the table.

"I agreed to buy some tea towels just to get rid of him. But I told him I didn't have £30 cash and he said he would take a cheque.

Police warning

"I was looking for my cheque book and I opened a drawer where I was keeping £120.

"He must have seen it and grabbed the money when I was getting my cheque book.

"He has repaid my kindness by cheating and stealing - I still feel really shaken up."

Police have warned local residents to be on the look-out for the suspect, who is described as 5ft 6ins tall, stocky build with black hair.