A couple who conned agents and house sellers into thinking they were super-wealthy purchasers are awaiting sentencing.
During a three-year spree, Richard Jerome and his ex-teacher wife Hazel went round Devon, Cornwall and Northamptonshire pretending to be rich ex-pats who were just back from tax exile in the Caribbean and searching for a home to retire to.
In fact, Jerome was a former mini-cab driver from Milton Keynes who had less than £200 to his name and had already done time for fraud. In 2009, he and his wife were given jail sentences at Huntingdon Crown Court for convictions relating to two properties.
In their latest frauds, the couple would make cash offers – in total, more than £3.5m for four houses in Sidmouth, Looe and Daventry – then claim delays for a variety of reasons and ask to rent the property prior to purchase. They then ‘squatted’ in the properties without paying rent.
Among those giving evidence at the trial at Exeter Crown Court was agent Edward Talland of Jackson Stops & Staff. The couple, using the name ‘Ausson’ put in an offer to buy a £750,000 property in Sidmouth in 2010. By January 2011, there was no sign of funds coming through.
Talland realised who the couple were when a surveyor emailed him a cutting about the earlier case which contained a photograph.
The couple were found guilty of all charges. Jerome was remanded in jail and his wife released on bail, but warned she can expect a custodial sentence.
Judge Erik Salomonsen said: “He knows he is facing a long prison sentence.”
He told Jerome: “You know the score. You are a confidence trickster. You are a menace. You were a menace when you were convicted before and you continue to be a menace.”
The couple are expected to be sentenced later this month.
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Comments
these fraudsters managed to get into the homes of the properties in MK and were duly imprisoned in 2010, one victim a criminal barrister the other a colleague from the school she worked at..... The estate agents/vendors were conned but apart from losing the sales to the fraudsters with the delays of funds they didn't get into the properties did they? it is the other victims (many vulnerable) that parted with monies (some substantial amounts) that through the lies and deception of these fraudsters have faced much more. Sadly a great lesson for us all.
Wow, too many comments not enough time - Where is the due diligence?
Ive done a few of these short term rent before you buy jobbies like this but for the love of all that’s holy what happened here to a chat with the in house mortgage lady / chap?, a bank statement showing any claims of cash? or even a credit check before doing the short term rental……………..or a couple of months up front (‘’after all sir it will be your house in a few weeks based on what you claim’’)
Sadly you deserve the agent you choose.
Jonnie
" Hmm , would an online cheapo spotted this?"
Hmmm - don't know. Maybe they would.
The Agent named in the press release didn't until someone shoved it right under their nose!
Can someone tell me, though - when did Agents selling expensive properties stop following tried and trusted methods of qualifying purchasers - as seems to be the case in the four 'transactions' this story refers to?
Pity the poor vendors, in my opinion. I hope they were well recompensed if any failings in due diligence were proven.
Hmm , would an online cheapo spotted this?
Solicitors for the Vendors have a case to answer here.
This is why we always ask to see proof of cash funds before we instruct solicitors. How can any offer be put forward to our vendors as "cash" without proof? Genuine buyers never have a problem providing this.
Hell fire; there's no way I would be happy for a prospective buyer to rent anything before they buy. If the owner was to agree, I would make it clear that it was against my advice.