A SERIAL shoplifter who conned retailers and businesses in Worcester, Droitwich, Malvern and across the country out of over half a million pounds in cash has been jailed. 

Narinder Kaur used to live in Worcester and targeted shops in the county several times, including Boots in Malvern and Droitwich and House of Fraser in Worcester.

Kaur travelled across the country to steal from well-known high-street stores before taking them back to the till to claim refunds on those items. 

Kaur, formally known as Nina Tiara, of Chosen Hill in Cleverton, Wiltshire was jailed for ten years at Gloucestershire Crown Court today (Tuesday, July 30).

READ MORE- Crash on A449 in Claines

READ MORE- Road closed after car arson near the Punch Bowl Inn

The 54-year-old was previously found guilty of 26 counts of fraud, money laundering and perverting the course of justice in March 2023.

Between July 2015 and September 2019, it is estimated Kaur netted around £2,000 a week in refunds.

Narinder Kaur defrauded many companies (Image: CPS)

Over that time, she picked up over half a million pounds in fraudulent refunds and stolen goods. 

Knowing she was under investigation for these offences, she then embarked upon a scheme to defraud other businesses using the dishonestly obtained credit card details of members of the public.

An examination of her bank and credit card accounts, of which she had many, showed she had defrauded Boots stores, including ones in Droitwich and Malvern.

She managed to receive £60,787.09 in refunds from the pharmacy chain, despite having only spent £5,172.73.

Between January and July 2018, Kaur targeted House of Fraser stores around the country, including one in Worcester.

Then between 2018 and early 2019, Kaur defrauded Homesense stores, including a Worcester branch, of £19,540.17 yet she only spent £1,181.45.

She also defrauded brands such as Debenhams, Johns Lewis, Monsoon, TK Maxx, and Homebase and attempted to defraud Wiltshire Council of £7,400.

Fraud investigator Steve Tristram from West Mercia Police’s Economic Crime Unit, said: "Kaur is a calculated individual who committed offences across the country, dishonestly claiming refunds on items she had stolen. 

"She showed no remorse of her actions and even thought she would get away with submitting false documents to the court with the intention of perverting the course of justice.

“West Mercia Police took ownership of the investigation into Narinder Kaur in 2018.

"We looked at her bank accounts and discovered an extraordinary amount of refunds, as opposed to payments from her banks. 

"This led us to believe she was operating a retail fraud operation across the country."