A BOGUS Rowley Regis charity collector duped kind-hearted shopkeepers into giving him money, claiming it was for cancer research.

David Armson was jailed for 16 months after a judge at Wolverhamoton Crown Court told him his actions undermined public confidence in genuine charity collections.

Judge Martin Walsh said the 24-year-old had an “appalling” record for similar offending having clocked up 81 previous convictions for fraud going back to 2002.

He added: "These offences are mean and despicable. You attended various premises in order to solicit charitable donations for this cancer charity.

"The purpose was to encourage members of the public to make donations. You wanted money to buy drugs and you were armed with false documentation to mislead and dupe."

He said members of the public who handed over their hard earned money to charitable causes were entitled to expect their money would be used for good purposes,.

Armson,of Orchard Close, admitted six charges of fraud, two of possessing false documentation and the breach of a four-month suspended prison sentence imposed for entering a firm with sponsorship forms.

The judge jailed the prolific conman for a year for his latest spate of bogus charity collections and ruled he should also serve a further four months for breaching the order.

Paul Reid, prosecuting, said Armson was spotted in by an off-duty police officer in Bridgnorth Road, Stourbridge, visiting shops to ask for sponsorship for a fake charity ride on behalf of a cancer charity.

But the officer had arrested Armson, described as having a "chronic" drug habit, before in similar circumstances.

Ekwall Tiwana,defending, said Armson had been addicted to drugs since he was 12 years of age and he had resorted to crime to buy them.