A GOOD Samaritan had his generosity betrayed by a criminal gang operating in Colchester.

Police are appealing for information after a necklace was stolen from the neck of a 66-year-old man who had stopped to give directions to four foreigners in a car on the corner of Claudius Road and Mersea Road just before 1.30pm on Thursday.

The thief herself is white, European and aged in her 40s.

She is very large and has several gold teeth.

The car was a black saloon and it was the woman on the back seat passenger side who stole the necklace.

As the car sped off with the jewellery other items of jewellery came free including a ring and chain.

Anyone with information call Colchester police station on 101.

See the full story in Tuesday's Gazette.