Arrest after bogus charity collection report

Police are investigating reports that a bogus charity collector has been obtaining money from householders in Aylesham near Dover.

A woman, who indicated she had communication difficulties and was hard of hearing, has been reported to have called at houses asking for money for disabled and AIDs charities. She is said to have shown some householders a sponsorship form on which is detailed the money collected - sums ranging from £2 to £20.

One householder became suspicious, however, and followed the woman on 16 January and she was seen throwing the form in a nearby wheelie bin. She was detained with the help of an off-duty special constable and police were called.

The 18-year-old woman from Gillingham was arrested on suspicion of fraud, questioned and released on police bail until 8 March 2013 pending further police investigation.

PC Chris Ford, who is investigating the fraud, said: "We believe that about £70 was collected from what appears to be about 13 victims, some of them elderly. But there may be others who have given money who we do not know about and we would urge them to contact police as soon as possible."

PC Ford can be contacted at Kent Police on 101, giving reference SI/ZY/466/13.