A man has been charged with fraud after an elderly man made a cash payment to someone pretending to be a council worker.

The victim, a Sittingbourne man in his 80s, was found alone in Chatham town centre by officers after concerned taxi staff rang the police.

Attending officers took the man home after he had told them he made a cash payment to a man who claimed to work for Swale council and said work had been carried out at his home.

The victim also told police he had been taken to Sittingbourne and Chatham town centres where unsuccessful attempts were made to get money from a bank and pawnbrokers.

Following an investigation, which started on January 9, Danny-Lee Andrew, from Maidstone, was arrested on Saturday, January 23 and later charged with two counts of fraud.

The 28-year-old was remanded in custody to attend Medway Magistrates' Court today.

Police are now reminding people to keep safe by being weary of cold callers.

The force has advised people to make a not of caller detail if a request for a payment is made, research the agency the caller claims they're from and never hand money over to a courier who has come to collect it.

If you suspect a call was fraudulent, wait for at least five minutes for the line to clear before contacting Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or Kent Police on 101.

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