Man who impersonated a police officer jailed
Mason Crozier defrauded seven people across the country, including in Cheshire
Last updated 8th Jan 2026
A man, who pretended to be a police officer, in order to gain the trust of people who were selling their vehicles has been jailed for more than three years.
Mason Crozier defrauded seven people across the country, including in Cheshire, by claiming to have sent over funds to buy their vehicles, even showing them a fake police warrant card to ensure they trusted him. But the money he promised was never paid.
The 25-year-old, of Oak Bank Avenue, Manchester, was sentenced to three years and four months on Monday 5 January 2026 at Chester Crown Court.
He had previously pleaded guilty to seven counts of fraud by false representation, seven counts of impersonating a police officer, and one count of possession of an article for use in fraud.
On 11 May 2025, Crozier arranged to view a car for sale in Leicestershire and was collected from the train station by the seller. The car was previously owned by Greater Manchester Police and Crozier falsely claimed he was an officer and had previously driven the car, explaining that was why he wanted to buy it.
Crozier stated the purchase was pending via his bank, even showing payments from what appeared to be a policing organisation on his online banking to make the victim trust him. He then left with the vehicle and payment was never received.
On 10 June 2025, Crozier enquired about a Volkswagen Golf which was listed for sale in Blackburn. He took the vehicle for a test drive with the victim and stated he was a police officer. He then said he would pay via bank transfer but stated he needed to leave as he had to be ‘on shift’. The victim allowed him to leave with the car due to believing him to be an officer.
On 17 June 2025, Crozier attended an address in Buxton in relation to an Audi S3 for sale. He stated he was an officer and showed the victim images of police badges and his police warrant card and took the vehicle while ‘waiting for the payment to go through’.
Just a few days later, on 21 June 2025, Crozier attended an address in Little Bollington, Cheshire, enquiring about an Audi A3. He said he was a police officer and even showed the victim videos on his phone of a pursuit he was allegedly involved in. Crozier agreed to purchase the vehicle and showed the victim that the bank transfer was ‘going through’ before leaving with the car.
Crozer struck again the next month, on 28 July 2025, in Tattenhall, Chester. He arrived at the victim’s address in a taxi, even telling the taxi driver he was a police officer and showing him a warrant card, before saying the same to the victim. He pretended to transfer funds to buy a Volkswagen Golf R and left with the vehicle.
The same method of offending was used by Crozier on 10 August 2025 in Blackburn after the victim advertised a Volkswagen Motor Caravan for sale. After taking the vehicle for a test drive, they agreed on the purchase and Crozier stated he was sorting the payment out via his bank. Crozier showed the victim a fake police warrant card as reassurance and left with the vehicle.
On 24 August 2025, Crozier attended an address in Bollington, Cheshire, after the victim collected Crozier from Wilmslow Train Station and took him for a test drive. Crozier informed the victim he was a ‘highly trained police pursuit officer’ and made a pretend call to his bank to pay for the Volkswagen T-Roc. When the victim asked for a form of ID, Crozier showed him a fake police warrant card and drove the vehicle away.
Crozier was initially identified as a suspect due to previous convictions for similar offences. CCTV and images obtained of the suspect also gave a clear indication that he was the suspect.
On 1 September 2025, Crozier was located in Manchester and arrested. A search of his address revealed fake warrants cards matching the ones used in the offences.
The total value of the stolen vehicles was £107,585.
Detective Sergeant Roy Wellings said: “Crozier is a prolific offender who clearly had no regard for his victims, repeatedly targeting innocent people and preying on their trust for his own selfish gain.
“He went to extreme lengths to make his story believable. He used fake warrant cards and bank payments to back up his claim that he was a police officer, he showed people videos of pursuits and photographs on his phone to embellish his lies further, and even pretended to call his bank and show victims screenshots that payment was being made.
“Crozier’s behaviour was incredibly calculated, and he evidently showed no remorse for his actions as he had previous convictions for similar offences.
“Thankfully, his offending was brought to a stop and our officers worked tirelessly to secure evidence against him, meaning that he had no choice but to plead guilty at court.”
If you believe that you have been a victim of fraud, please contact Cheshire Police on 101 or here
You can also report to Action Fraud via actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040.
Call 999 immediately in an emergency or if you suspect a fraud is currently in progress.