Weston woman impersonated police officer to rob thousands from pensioner

Tracey Hayward, of Walliscote Grove Road, Weston-super-Mare, targeted her partially sighted 88-year-old victim on multiple occasions. Credit: Avon and Somerset Police

A woman who tricked a pensioner into believing she was a police officer and stole thousands of pounds from her has been jailed.

Tracey Hayward of Weston-super-Mare donned a homemade police cap on several occasions in order to gain entry to the 88-year-old’s home.

Bristol Crown Court were told how 36-year-old Hayward had etched the word ‘Police’ onto a baseball cap using correction fluid to appear official when she targeted her victim.

The baseball cap used by Hayward to trick her victim Credit: Avon and Somerset Police

The alarm was raised when staff from PrimRose Home Help installed security cameras in the elderly woman’s home after they became concerned for her wellbeing.

The home care company later detained the fraudster and she was arrested. However her string of crimes did not end there.

Hayward continued to deceive the pensioner after her arrest - even though she had been released under investigation.

The offences finally stopped when Hayward was arrested for a second time and was held in police custody.

Bristol Crown Court heard the details of Hayward's fraud Credit: ITV West Country

She was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to three counts of burglary and one count of theft.

The investigating officer described Hayward as ‘despicable’ and has spoken of his gratitude to the pensioner’s home care for their intervention.