POLICE investigating the theft of £7,000 from an 81-year-old woman by a bogus police officer have released this image of the offender.

Alice Barber, of St Martin's Road, Cheriton, near Folkestone, was left penniless after the thief tricked his way into her council home.

Mrs Barber, a widow and a great grandmother, was at home alone when the doorbell went at 8.40am on Friday, September 28.

She answered the door and a man wearing a dark suit flashed a badge and said he was a police officer.

The man was talking to Mrs Barber in the lounge about the security of her valuables before he went to the dining room to make a call on his mobile phone.

Minutes later the frail great-grandmother noticed he had gone and taken her handbag and purse containing her life savings.

The offender is described as a white man, around 6ft tall with a moustache, which could have been false. He was wearing black clothing and may also have been wearing glasses.

Mrs Barber's daughter, Maxine Lees, 45, said: "She kept that money near her at all times and even took it to bed with her - it was her life savings - her funeral expenses."

Mrs Barber, who is recovering from an operation to remove cancer from her back, has been shaken by the incident.

Mrs Lees added: "To pretend to be a police officer to get into the house is just disgusting because people of my mother's age are very trusting."

Anyone with information about these crimes is asked to contact Kent Police on 01303 850055 or Kent Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.