A FRAUDSTER who posed as a charity worker to con money out of unknowing donors was exposed after he was spotted by one of the victims he had tricked.

David Lock, from Thornton Heath, duped people into believing they were handing over cash for a cancer charity but then used their donations to line his own pockets.

The 30-year-old, of Buckingham Gardens, went around collecting sponsorship money by pretending he was taking part in a darts-a-thon.

He was caught after targeting a man on Ederline Avenue, Norbury, on March 21. Lock had visited the property and told his victim he was looking for an old lady who had won a £500 cash prize.

He persuaded the man to hand over £30 by saying he would tell his boss the prize money belonged to him instead.

But the victim grew suspicious after finding the contact details Lock had given him were false.

He spotted the fraudster on the same street later that day and kept him talking until the police arrived and arrested him.

Neighbours on Ederline Avenue have spoken of their disgust that the conman targeted their street.

Iqbal Javaid, who lives next door to the victim, said: "It's worrying.

"You've got quite a lot of elderly couples on the street and they're easy targets.

"These kind of cons are definitely happening more often."

Fellow neighbour Sheila Savvides had no sympathy for the victim, however.

She said: "The victim should have said they wanted nothing to do with it.

"People are looking for easy money for as little as possible."

When Lock was arrested he was discovered with an A4 form, with the words "cancer research" on the top, along with several other sponsors' names and addresses.

He pleaded guilty to four counts of fraud and was sentenced at Croydon Magistrates' Court earlier this month.

Lock was slapped with a 12-month community order and told to complete 200 hours of unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay £30 compensation to the victim and £40 costs.

DS James Hallums said Lock prayed on people's generosity by persuading them to hand over cash they thought was helping a good cause.

He added: "We would recommend to the public that if somebody does come to your door saying they are collecting for charity, check their identification and, if in doubt, contact the charity who they say they're from to make sure they are genuine."