Two Zimbabwean men from Nottingham have been jailed for fraud offences.

Ephraim Chivunga, 38, of Ransom Road, St Ann’s and Tonderai Murungu, 39, of Bathley Street, Meadows pleaded guilty to a number of counts of fraud and handling stolen goods.

Murungu received two years imprisonment and Chivunga was jailed for two years and nine months at Nottingham Crown Court yesterday (12 December 2019).

The first count of fraud related to an online application for a credit card obtained in the victim’s name. When the card was delivered it was stolen from a rural mailbox along with the PIN and used on multiple occasions at various locations, including withdrawals of cash from ATMs in Southwell, Lenton and Canning Circus.

Goods were also purchased from Stores within Victoria Shopping Centre, Nottingham and the card was used to pay for a stay at Bestwood Lodge Hotel. The men spent the entire credit limit of £4,000 in just a few days.

The pair stole a European Diesel Card from a second rural location which was used on numerous occasions to obtain fuel from filling stations across the County. Both men pleaded guilty to fraud and handling stolen goods in relation to these offences, which occurred between December 2017 and January 2018.

Prior to these offences, Chivunga was stopped and arrested in Warwickshire in October 2017 for driving offences, the vehicle he was using was subsequently found to contain hundreds of pounds worth of fake retail vouchers. He was subsequently charged with this offence and pleaded guilty to possessing articles to be used in fraud.

Officers gathered a large amount of CCTV footage, examined fingerprints and collected DNA samples to link the pair to the offences.

Chivunga was arrested in Nottingham on 9 January 2018 at a City Centre hotel, whilst Murungu was located and arrested on 28 February 2018 after a warrant was executed at his address in the Meadows, Nottingham.

Detective Constable Matt Butler said: “Both men showed complete disregard to the victims and we are delighted that both are now behind bars, they targeted mailboxes in rural locations to steal personal information and credit cards, using these as though they were their own.

“This was a lengthy and complex investigation. I’d like to thank and praise my fellow colleagues for their hard work to ensure this good result.

“I’d also like to thank the victims for their total co-operation throughout the investigation.” – British Police