A COMMUTER who fell foul of a motorway conman is warning others not to fall for the trick as police launch a fresh appeal to motorists.

Last year, police received a number of reports of a man standing on the M4 feigning he had run out of fuel, and asking for a lift to the nearest services before begging hundreds of pounds from his victims in cash.

A conviction was brought last year, but after the offender was released from prison, similar reports have been filed, from May and June of this year.

One of those caught up in the scam was 61-year-old Trevor Smith, who had been travelling from Kent to Bristol past Swindon on May 19 when he came across a man holding up an empty fuel can.

"He is certainly a very plausible con man," said Trevor. "I stopped at Membury and spotted him, and just decided to help him out.

"That is very uncharacteristic of me, but I just felt in a good mood and wanted to do him a favour."

After picking up the man, who spoke with a West Country accent and called himself Paul Jones, Trevor listened to him apparently pleading with the Highways Agency and breakdown company.

"They were apparently going to haul his car down to Cornwall, and he was putting on the act," he said.

"The whole storyline sounded very tragic, and seemed as though he was going to get ripped off himself.

"It was very convincing, and looking back, was obviously a well rehearsed routine."

"I have had many conversations with the police since, and other reports are very similar, that he is very believable and a lot of other people have fallen into this trap.

He added: "He explained to the break down company as he had broken his phone it was not possible to transfer money to them in this emergency and that is why he was unable to buy fuel to get him back to Cornwall.

"His father apparently was not able to help him as he was a trawler-man and had just set sail from Newlyn near Penzance and had no signal. He then explained to me that these break down guys were going to charge about £1,000 to tow him to Cornwall and that this was the only option open to him to safely deliver his cargo worth £3,000."

Trevor offered to pay £250 towards the cost of the tow, adding another £50 for the apparently distressed man to get a meal, as he said he had left his wallet in his car.

Trevor took a receipt for the money and took a photograph of the man for security, but after starting to chase the money the next day, was never repaid.

His suspicions were raised when he saw articles published on the previous set of offences, which rang true to his experience, and he contacted police.

A spokesperson for Wiltshire Police said: "The man carries a green fuel can and is believed to stand on various slip roads between Junction 19 of the M4 and Junction 15 at the A419 Swindon turnoff.

"Claiming his vehicle has broken down elsewhere due to running out of fuel he asks motorists for a lift to the nearest service station, primarily Leigh Delemere or Membury.

"Officers are keen to hear from anyone who may have been targeted in similar circumstances or who has any information about these incidents."

People with information are asked to contact Police Sergeant Paul Harvey, at the Local Crime Team (LCT) in Melksham on 101. Alternatively people can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be left anonymously if they wish.