'Look pal stop ringing, I've done this to 100s of people': Serial conman who posed as undercover cop taunted victims after fleecing their cars

A serial conman who taunted his victims by admitting 'I'm a grafter' after stealing cars and vans worth almost £50,000 is back behind bars. Mason Crozier tricked several people into letting him drive away in the vehicles they were selling by pretending a internet bank transfer was about to be made.

One on occasion he posed as an undercover GMP officer and gave his victim a fake collar number to persuade him to let him drive off in an Audi A3 worth £7,250. In total Crozier, 21, stole six vehicles- including a Ford Transit van worth £13,000 and a BMW worth £3,500 - over a nine month period during lockdown in 2020 and 2021, Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard.

The first offence took place just days after he was released from a young offenders institute on licence having been sentenced in February 2020 for a string of almost identical crimes. After one victim, from whom Crozier stole a Renault Trafic van, made numerous attempts to contact him the conman texted: "Look pal, stop ringing. I've done this to hundreds of people.

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"Your van is gone. It's in parts all over the north west. You can report this to the police they will tell you it's a civil matter because you gave me the keys. They won't be interested so good luck."

Another text, sent to the owner of the Audi A3 read: "OK, I'm a grafter. I will give you the car back. It's not worth the headache. Give me a couple of hours I will get it back to you." The car was never returned, the court heard.

After stealing £50 of diesel from a petrol station in Northenden by persuading staff he would pay via bank transfer Crozier threatened the owner by saying he would get a 'load of