Detectives have issued a CCTV image of a man who could assist with their enquiries following the theft of a bank card from an elderly woman in a Sefton care home.

An investigation is underway following a report that a number of retail transactions were made fraudulently, and as a result the bank card was reported stolen along with the owner’s PIN number.

The son of the 83-year-old victim from Damfield Care Home in Maghull noticed the unauthorised transactions on her bank statement and reported the matter.

The card was used over 30 times in a week during March, including transactions made at McDonalds on Walton Road in Kirkdale. In total the offender has fraudulently bought more than £800 worth of shopping.

No member of staff at the care home is suspected of the crime.

Inspector Edward Barr said:?“This is a callous and despicable crime on a vulnerable woman who has dementia.

“The thief has brazenly used the stolen bank card more than 30 times – fraudulently obtaining more than £800 worth of goods.”

Extensive enquiries have been carried out, and detectives have now released a CCTV image of a man they believe could assist their enquiries into the incident.

Inspector Barr added: “I am appealing to the person featured in this image, or anyone who recognises him to come forward. We believe he could hold information that could be vital to our continuing enquiries.

“We are determined to find the offender so that other people are not targeted in this manner. If you hold information about the theft of the bank card then please contact us so we can bring the offender to justice.”

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact @MerPolCC on Twitter or ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’ on Facebook with reference 22000184046.

You can also pass information via Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or their online form at https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-in...on-anonymously.