A fraudster who obtained instant credit in IKEA stores in London and Essex by providing fake and stolen ID has been jailed after he was snared by Brent Police.

Ahmad Sikanartey, 29, from Woodford Green, targeted branches of the Swedish homeware retailer in Wembley, Croydon, Tottenham and Thurrock.

He duped staff into allowing him to purchase thousands of pounds worth of goods by using counterfeit UK and Lithuanian driving licences and stolen credit and bank cards between January and March this year.

Brent Police launched an investigation after he struck at the Wembley store and he was traced to an address in Woodford Green where officers uncovered the fake and stolen ID when they raided the property in April.

A second raid at a storage unit in Purfleet, Essex, uncovered £10,000 worth of IKEA goods.

He admitted nine counts of making false representation and was jailed for 16 months at Harrow Crown Court.

PC Sammi Elfituri, from Stonebridge Safer Neighbourhoods Team, said: “This was a complex investigation working in partnership with Essex Police, other London boroughs, and the retailer’s Fraud team as well as the victims of ID theft.

“The message is clear to anyone thinking of doing something similar. We will catch up with you and bring you to justice.”