A COUPLE who repackaged multi-vitamin tablets and sold them on as "wonder diet pills" are behind bars after targeting vulnerable people in the region.

Madjide Khalik and Marcella Hynes made more than £300,000 through the scam - by conning more than 1,600 clients.

Khalik, 40, and Hynes, 33, established a number of health and diet companies in London. They also set up Debt Enforcement Agency Ltd to pressurise their victims into paying any money owed.

Teesside Crown Court heard that people were cold-called through a telesales operation and asked if they had a weight problem.

If they said they did, they would be offered a so-called wonder pill, with sales staff guaranteeing a weight loss of ten to 15lbs in the first month.

But the slimming drug - which was sometimes sold for more than £150 for 25 tablets - was, in fact, repackaged vitamins bought for £2.39.

North Yorkshire trading standards officers led the investigation after receiving a string of complaints from people in the region.

Khalik, of Hampstead Heath, London, was jailed for a year after admitting three charges of conspiracy to defraud and two of acting in the management of a company after being disqualified for eight years, in November 1998.

Hynes, of Brixton, London, was jailed for six months after pleading guilty to three charges of conspiracy to defraud.

Stuart Pudney, head of North Yorkshire's trading standards service, said: "This deception prayed on people's fears and took advantage of some vulnerable individuals."