TWO men have been convicted of their parts in a courier fraud conspiracy targeting mainly pensioners, intending to relieve them of tens of thousands of pounds of savings.

Sahil Zaman, who has a previous similar conviction, and Noor Sharif, were both found guilty of their roles in the organised offence, yesterday/on Friday January 28).

Following a fortnight-long trial at Durham Crown Court the jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts to counts of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and conspiracy to conceal, disguise, convert, transfer or remove criminal property, namely cash and valuables, knowing them to be the proceeds of fraud.

The offences were said to have been committed between September 11, 2018, and February 2, 2019.

Zaman, 22, of Camden, and 19-year-old Sharif, of Torrington Place, both London, previously denied both charges.

Both defendants will come back before the court on Monday to be sentenced with three co-accused, also from London.

Abdul Karimu Oladotun Olayinka, 19, of South Hackney, plus Miah Fawaz, 26, and 20-year-old Frazer Abdulkarim, both also of Camden, previous admitted conspiracy to commit fraud.

Read more: Five in court accused of courier fraud conspiracy

All were said to be members of the group, posing as police investigators and bank employees, who rang potential victims, some in County Durham, warning them “suspicious activity” had been reported on their bank accounts.

The targeted people were advised to withdraw money from their accounts or hand over valuable items of property, like Rolex watches, in lieu, for collection by a police courier to ensure their safe-keeping.

Those acting as couriers would travel to their victims’ homes to collect the cash and/or the valuables.

Following their verdicts, Judge Ray Singh thanked the jury and told them all five gang members would be sentenced at a hearing before him on Monday, but in each case the offence, “crosses the custody threshold”.

He remanded Zaman to remain in custody, as he has been throughout proceedings, but extended bail over the weekend for Sharif, for whom a pre-sentence report will be prepared prior to sentence on Monday.

Judge Singh warned him, however: “Don’t make your position worse by failing to attend and don’t read anything into the fact I’m adjourning for a report and renewing your bail.

“The offending by each defendant in this case crosses the custody threshold.”

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated County Durham Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054