A TRUSTING Timperley pensioner has become the latest victim of a con trick that passes off cheap coats as top of the range leather goods.

The eighty-one year-old great grandfather was duped into handing over his savings for what he believed were top quality Christmas presents for his family.

But he had been sold cheap goods at an inflated price - becoming the latest victim of a well organised operation that has taken in many people in Trafford and throughout the north of England.

The pensioner - who does not want to be identified - was walking along Park Road when a man pulled up in a smart car and started speaking to him in broken English.

The car driver claimed he was an Italian who was in England on business selling leather goods. He claimed he was returning to Italy and could not take the goods back as he would have to pay tax on it.

The conman said his leather coats were worth £400 each and asked the the Second World War veteran if he had any money at home. The pensioner said he had and he took the 'Italian' to his home, where he handed over £150 savings and his £100 heating allowance for four coats.

His daughter says: "My dad thought these would be wonderful Christmas presents for the family. But they are just plastic coats with a leather look.

"I am so angry - it is disgusting to target an elderly man like this. Now my dad is really upset. I just hope nobody else gets taken in."

Joe Mann, assistant director for trading standards, says: "This is an ongoing scam which is highly organised. We are in the middle of investigating this with the police and are liaising with other trading standards division because this is happening throughout the North of England.

"In Trafford we know of 20 similar cases this year. People should not buy goods in circumstances that seem unusual."

The conman is breaking the Trade Descriptions Act by describing the goods as leather - this offence can carry a fine of up to £2,000 or up to two years in prison.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.