RESIDENTS who fear for their valuables after the pawnbroker holding them was jailed have appealed for other people affected to come forward.

Harvey White, who owns Cash Call pawnbrokers, in St John’s Road, Clacton, was sentenced to nine years in prison last year after being found guilty of being involved in a rogue builder scam conning elderly residents out of £1million and laundering cash through his business.

But his sentence means the shop has closed without warning and people whose valuables were inside fear they may never get them back.

A group of people affected have been speaking to police, as well as a host of other organisations, about the situation.

But the police said they cannot help because it is a civil matter, and the residents have struggled to find anyone else who can guide them on where to go fromhere.

One woman, who did not want to be named, said: “We need as many people to come forward as possible to show how big a problem this is for us and how many people it is affecting.”

Anyone affected who wants to join the cause can call the Gazette on 01255 221221.