A supermarket has rallied round an elderly woman who was targeted by fraud.

Staff at the Co-op on Trinity Street in Dorchester provided the victim with a food parcel after her bank account, which she holds with the Co-op bank, was frozen after being defrauded.  

The victim, an elderly resident from Portland, was scammed out of her money and visited the Co-op bank with police officers to talk about the next steps.

After the account was frozen by the bank to prevent fraudsters taking further sums of money following the scam, the victim had no money for a simple grocery shop.

Dave Lawson, a team leader at the Dorchester Co-op, saw the problems the vulnerable person was facing and stepped in to create a food parcel.

The parcel contained just some of the basics as Mr Lawson said, ‘she didn’t want a lot.’

Food in the parcel will ensure the woman had enough food and drink until her bank account was unfrozen.

Speaking about the generosity of the act, Mr Lawson said: “We would do it all the time as we don’t like to see anyone go without."

Mr Lawson went on to say that the shop does step in 'every now and then' to help those in need. 

PC Elswood of the Dorchester Neighbourhood Policing Team sent a personal and public thank you to the members of staff for their generosity in store.

The police will continue to support the victim and carry out further enquires into the fraud.

A spokesperson for Dorset Police said: “PC Elswood from Dorchester Neighbourhood Policing Team would like to thank Co-op personally and publicly, Trinity Street for their generosity today.

“Officers attended the store to see if there was anything that could be done to further support a vulnerable victim of crime after their bank account had been frozen, leaving them with no money to buy groceries. The accounts were frozen by the bank to prevent fraudsters taking further sums of money following a scam.

“The victim has kindly been given a food parcel from Co-op which will ensure she has enough food and drink until her bank account is unfrozen next week.

“The Neighbourhood Team will continue to support the victim and carry out enquiries into the reported fraud,” they added.