A FORMER conman, whose criminal past has been made into a British blockbuster, is confident viewers will root for the main characters - even though they are deviant credit card fraudsters.
Saq Ahmed says he hopes that viewers of Plastic root for the criminals[PH]Saq Ahmed, 41, stole millions of pounds from some of the word's richest people - including foreign royals, big business owners and Hollywood directors - in a criminal career that lasted more than 10 years.
After being approached to tell his story on the big screen in new movie Plastic, Saq now believes film-goers will relate to his underdog tale.
He told the Express Online: "I hope the British public watch it and even though it's a criminal act, I hope there is enough in it for people to root for the main characters.
"It's the small man against the big corporations.
"It just proved that the big shots should spend more time focusing on their security and less time on their profits.
"My defence is that what I did was non-violent and as far as I was concerned, I was Robin Hood."
The film stars Ed Speleers (Downton Abbey), Alfie Allen (Game Of Thrones), Sebastian de Souza (Skins) and Hollywood actor Will Poulter (We’re The Millers) as Saq and his friends – a group of low-level credit card fraudsters who end up messing with the wrong people.
UK blockbuster Plastic is based on Saq's life [GATEWAY FILMS]It just proved that the big shots should spend more time focusing on their security and less time on their profits
Saq said he worked closely with the producers and writers to make the film as close to his own story as possible but said it was just a "glimpse" of what he had been through.
Saq, who is now looking for a book deal to spread his story, explained he got into credit card fraud at university in the late 1980s.
He and a friend stole a foreign student's identity by using his personal details to obtain a credit card and cheque book.
He said: "In those days it was so easy. There was no internet or computer checks and security was so basic.
"Me and my best friend at the time then went on a shopping spree. Trainers, watches, anything we wanted."
However Saq, from Cheetham Hill, Manchester, knew that doing small-time jobs wouldn't get him to the big money.
He built up a team and acquired the help of a woman who worked at American Express, played by former Hollyoaks actress Emma Rigby in the flm.
By having an inside contact, Saq and his team could target some of the richest clients at the bank.
"So many of our targets had so much money that they didn't even notice it leaving their account.
"They had so many accounts too and we were pretty sure they were not the ones controlling them."
By aged 20, he was driving a brand new Porsche worth £25,000.
A scene from the film [GATEWAY FILM]He added: "At this point it was like a proper job, I was living a double life as I had to put in the research and build up a profile on the card details I would get.
"If I needed slightly more information, I would just ring my girl and she'd try to fill in the gaps.
"I would need to know more about you, than you."
After targeting top sports stars, film directors and other millionaires as he travelled all over the world, Saq's criminal career came to an end after one final heist, as seen in the film.
He and the producers worked hard to make the heist, including £2million worth of jewellery, near enough identical with a bit of drama added in between.
He said: "There wasn't any violence, but the heist is very similar.
"There was a lot of thought into it, with making the right contacts - people having to dress up.
"Plus hiring all of the the limousines, private jets etc."
After getting away with the jewellery, sloppy mistakes from a couple of his group lead the police to his door.
Saq served 18 months in prison of his three-and-a-half year sentence and was released in 2001.
Now he helps care for a disabled relative, in a very different lifestyle to what he once led.
Yet Saq was unsure if he would do it all again if given the chance.
There was no chip and pin back when Saq was copying card details. [GETTY]The former fraudster, who admitted his own credit card had been targeted at one point, said: "Sometimes I look at my brother - he went to university, he's got a degree, he's got a good job and I think - 'I would love to have a normal life'.
"Plus there is everything I have put my parents through and everyone else I've let down.
"My defence is that it was non-violent and in some cases had good intentions.
"For Band Aid, I transferred over £10,000 from rich people's credit cards to the charity.
"So it wasn't all for my own personal gain."
See Saq's story in upcoming movie Plastic, which will be released at cinemas across the UK tomorrow.
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