Police have released an image of a man they wish to speak to in connection with a string of frauds in Devon.

Police have released an image of a man they wish to speak to in connection with a string of frauds in Devon.

Mark Proctor, 44, is linked to a number of fraud incidents using the same method - the police said he asks people at churches for money, telling them he is recently bereaved and needs to travel to London, Scotland or Jersey to identify his mother or father's body.

He often uses aliases and attends churches having gleaned information about the ministers and people who work there.

He will tell them that he has some money but not enough for the fare.

Officers said he comes across as very genuine saying that his mother or father attended the church and were local to the village or town.

Devon and Cornwall police said he has been driven by some of the victims to the banks where money has been withdrawn by the victim and handed over to him.

One victim drove Proctor to Exeter Airport as he told him he had booked a flight.

The police said he is known to have struck in Stoke Gabriel, duping a parishioner out of �50.

His most recent crime was in South Brent, Plymouth, on December 15.

DC Jane Gerrard, of Totnes CID, said: "Obviously he is still out there and people don't always report to police as they feel embarrassed at being coned or they still believe that he will come back and repay the money.

"We would advise anyone not to give money to anyone in these circumstances and to contact police instead."

Anyone with any information is asked to call police on 08452 777444 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111, quoting crime ref - ED/09/8770 or JS/09/680.