'Vile' Colombian criminal who preyed on vulnerable victims at banks to steal large amounts of cash is deported

Published: 19:01 EDT, 3 November 2026 | Updated: 19:01 EDT, 3 November 2026 A 'vile' Colombian criminal who preyed on vulnerable victims at banks before stealing large amounts of cash has been deported.The Home Office kicked out Armet Cortes part-way through a 44-month jail term after he targeted elderly people who had visited cashpoints and bank counters.He and another Colombian, Willmer Guzman, last year admitted stealing more than £63,000.Cortes, 55, and his accomplices selected vulnerable victims, such as lone women and the disabled.On one occasion, the gang waited inside a bank while a woman withdrew £10,000.She was followed home on a bus, and one of the gang then faked a fall and injury.The victim stopped to assist and, while distracted, the gang entered her property and stole a bag containing the cash.Another victim suffered a £15,000 theft, while a third had to delay her retirement and return to work because of the financial loss. Colombian Armet Cortes (pictured) along with his accomplice admitted conspiracy to steal and has now been deportation Home Office minister Anna Turley said: 'This vile criminal targeted vulnerable citizens on our streets, not only stealing significant sums of money but also causing long-term fears and anxiety.'His deportation sends a clear message: anyone attempting to cash in on our hospitality will be given a one-way ticket out of the UK.'We will continue to work across government to remove these bad actors.'A court heard last September that Cortes and Guzman were part of a gang that used 'silent, skilled and subtle' signs to communicate with each other once they had identified a potential target.Victims, who were often elderly and disabled, were distracted by the thieves dropping coins on the ground or asking questions before they grabbed the freshly withdrawn money.Cortes and Guzman, 63, both of no fixed address, admitted conspiracy to steal and both face 44 months behind bars.Newcastle Crown Court heard between August and April the thieves pocketed more than £63,000 from 14 victims across the North East of England as well as in Merseyside and London.Guzman was deported earlier this year, it is understood.