A WOMAN has died just days after she was targeted by a conman who fleeced her out of £800.

Nellie Gibbs, 94, was found dead at her home in Wickford less than a week after a fraudster posing as a cop tricked his way into her home and coerced her into handing over her savings.

Post mortem results released yesterday found Mrs Gibbs died of natural causes and Essex Police have passed the file to the coroner.

Mrs Gibbs’ neighbours said the shock of the incident had caused her death.

Michael Oldham, 71, said: “I lived next door to Nellie for about 60 years.

“All we have been told is that she collapsed and died on Sunday, but we have not heard anything more. She was just a really nice old lady.”

Another neighbour, a woman who asked not want to be named, said: “Obviously, it was an awful thing to happen to an elderly lady. I think it had left her feeling shaken and upset.”

Mrs Gibbs was targeted on Tuesday, March 3 and died on Sunday, March 8.

She spoke to the Echo after the incident and appeared defiant.

She said: “He took four weeks’ pension and all of my other money.

“I’m not bothered though because I’ve got good neighbours, who look after me.”

Police said they are continuing to look into the burglary at Mrs Gibbs’ property.

A spokesman said: “Police have been investigating the sudden death of a 94-year-old woman from Wickford.

“Officers were notified by the ambulance service on Sunday, March 8, that the woman had been found dead at her home.

“The deceased was the victim of an artifice burglary on Tuesday, March 3, when a man claiming to be a police officer had entered her home.

“A post mortem was carried out on Monday and police are satisfied the death is not suspicious and the coroner has been informed.

“Anyone with information is asked to call Basildon CID on 101, or ring Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.”

 

CROOK PRETENDED TO BE COP

DETECTIVES are continuing to hunt for a conman who has fleeced pensioners out of thousands of pounds.

The crook is wanted in connection with incidents in Wickford and Billericay, which took place over the last 11 days.

On Saturday, he carried out five cons in just one day.

The man poses as a policeman and tells his victims he has information to suggest they have counterfeit money in their property.

He then forces his way into the property and demands they show him their paper money.

In one of the incidents, witnesses said he used a white van to travel to the property.

On March 5, the conman targeted an 84-year-old woman, at her home in The Rising, Billericay, taking £1,000 from her bedroom – money which she had been saving up to pay her council tax.

The conman is described as a fat white man, about 6ft 2ins tall.

He wears “tidy” clothes and speaks with an English accent.