A woman accused of being part of ‘courier fraud’ gang who ripped off vulnerable pensioners by pretending to be Scotland Yard detectives told jurors she was ‘ashamed’ of being conned herself.

Sheronica Davis Mitchell told jurors that she had no idea that she was being used to pick up thousands of pounds in cash and designer watches from Darlington pensioners.

The 26-year-old told Teesside Crown Court she believed that she was working for a video production company for musicians when she was tasked to drive from London to the North East to make some collections.

Her barrister, James Hasslacher, quizzed his client about her knowledge of the alleged scam that cost its victims thousands of pounds in cash and how she reacted when she learnt about the fraud allegations following her arrest.

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She said: “When I first heard, I felt sick to my stomach. The only thing that was going through my head was that my heart goes out to the victims.

“I’m quite embarrassed, if I am being honest, I’m embarrassed and disgusted.”

Mr Hasslacher asked her if she had any knowledge of the fraud taking place. The defendant replied: “No at all.”

Under cross examination from Matthew Bean, prosecuting, Davis Mitchell admitted she had carried out two similar trips to the Oxford area before she was arrested in September 2020.

Mr Bean asked the defendant why she had failed to give police a photograph of a man she claims got her involved in the ‘appalling offence’ until two years after her arrest.

She replied: “At the time of my arrest and after my interview was finished, I was told that if they needed me to come back for further questioning then I would but I was never asked to come back, so wasn’t given the opportunity.”

Earlier in the trial, jurors had heard how the pensioner had been given a codeword to listen out for before handing the cash over the fake officer to be deposited into a safe account.

Mr Bean said digital data recovered from the car, which had been hired by Mitchell, showed the vehicle parked up near to the pensioner's home at the time the cash was handed over.

Police analysis of mobile phone networks also showed the accused had also been in contact with one of her co-accused, Arris Qumar, after she made the return journey to the capital in September 2020.

Awais Zaman, 21, and 26-year-old Qumar, both from Coventry; Davis Mitchell, 26, from Lewisham, London; and 25-year-old Mya Haskins from Rugby; have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to dishonestly make false representation to make gain for themselves.

The trial continues.

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