A GROUP of four people alleged to have posed as police officers to steal from the homes of the elderly face a crown court trial.

The accused were in Chester Magistrates Court on Wednesday and Thursday charged with conspiracy to enter as a trespasser and conspiracy to rob from the homes of pensioners across west Cheshire.

The three men and a woman, all from Wrexham, are accused of targeting the homes of elderly residents in the county and Powys, Wales between May 5-8.

Elisha Jones, 23, of Hywelfa, Wrexham and Leon Lavell, 19, Fordowen, Wrexham, appeared at Chester Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

Jerry Patrick Berry, 23, of no fixed abode and a 15-year-old boy from Wrexham but who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared the following day.

They were arrested by Dyfed Powys officers on Thursday, May 7.

On May 5 they are alleged to have carried out distraction burglaries at Glebe Road, Cuddington; Towers Lane, Frodsham; Alvanley Road, Helsby and Chapel Lane, Kingsley. Berry is charged with another at Clifton Crescent in Frodsham on April 27 and a sixth offence at Upton Lane, Chester, on May 6 - when he is alleged to have stolen a car after stealing keys from inside the house.

All four will appear at Chester Crown Court on May 27 for a preliminary hearing.