A BOURNEMOUTH woman lost nearly £22,000 when a plausible fraudster roared off in her BMW leaving her with a worthless cheque.

Distressed Jeanette Robinson, proprietor of Baggies restaurant in Christchurch High Street said she and Lymington and New Milton Football Club manager husband Ian thought they had taken the proper precautions.

Mrs Robinson, 54, who lives in Manor Road, Bournemouth, decided to sell her prized BMW Z4 after her father suffered a stroke so that she could buy a car better designed to transport him and her mother around.

She advertised it in a motoring magazine and was contacted by a Londoner who said he was interested if it was in immaculate condition.

She told him it was, collected him from Bournemouth station on September 29 and drove him to Baggies to look at it.

Over a cup of coffee he said he was a stockbroker, made an offer which was accepted and said he would return in a few days when he had arranged funding.

"He came down on Sunday, October 2. We met him again at the station and handed over the car in return for a Woolwich Building Society cheque for £21,750," said Mrs Robinson.

She paid it into the bank the next morning and on Friday she received a call saying the cheque had been stolen and would not be honoured.

"It was all printed out and building societies don't give out cheques if there are no funds," said Mrs Robinson.

"He seemed well educated and well spoken so we had no reason to doubt him at all."

Her insurance company will not pay for the loss because it says it has gone as the result of a fraudulent transaction.

She has contacted the BBC's Crimewatch programme to see if it can be featured.

In the meantime she would like to hear from anyone who has seen the Stirling grey Z4, registration LT53 HHO.

First published: November 11