Fraudster sold house which did not belong to him, court told (From The Argus)
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Fraudster sold house which did not belong to him, court told
2:30pm Friday 5th October 2012 in News By Anna Roberts, Crime reporter
JAILED: Sean McGowan
A fraudster will spend three-and-a-half years behind bars after selling a house which he did not even own for £750,000.
Under the false name of Ian Mathewson, Sean McGowan tricked solicitors, estate agents and a bank into believing the derelict property was his to sell.
But it was all a con, and McGowan, 43, of New Cottages, Partridge Green, was caught out when the real owner found out his house had been sold.
When he appeared at the Old Bailey, McGowan was jailed for fraud.
He had previously admitted selling the house in Chobham Road, Sunningdale, Berkshire, to an “unwitting” property developer.
The court was told he used forged identification to trick people.
Thames Valley Police said he was traced by officers to his home in Sussex and was arrested in July 2011, at which time he made “certain admission”
to the part he played in the fraud.
Detective Sergeant Nick Bell, from the Thames Valley Police economic crime unit, praised the quick work of Detective Constable Richard Bates and added: “He acted immediately to ensure the funds were secured and recovered.
“He has done an excellent job, with a prompt and effective investigation, to bring McGowan to justice and minimise the loss.”
All of the money was recovered except £20,000, which McGowan had spent.
Comments(12)
Crystal Ball
says...
2:53pm Fri 5 Oct 12
Crystal Ball
says...
2:54pm Fri 5 Oct 12
gnarlychaos
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4:40pm Fri 5 Oct 12
Hove Actually
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6:33pm Fri 5 Oct 12
Total protection with the only loser being the person who didn't do what he/she was paid to do
CarltonEdge
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10:55pm Fri 5 Oct 12
1. I feel for this man. In a world where we are forever encouraged to recycle our rubbish, he gets on does and ends up in jail.
2. He he the third and long lost Mitchell brother?
Morpheus
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9:32am Sat 6 Oct 12
Barquentine
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3:39pm Sat 6 Oct 12
vogon1
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8:49pm Sat 6 Oct 12
The front of some people is quite amazing.
F in L
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7:44am Mon 8 Oct 12
vogon1 wrote:You can say that again, the fronts of those two pigs who gorged themselves at Gobi Restaurant is. I wonder who the useless solicitors are.
Quite an audacious crime. It reminds me of the story of some guy who sold famous landmarks back in the 1970's ( Eiffel Tower was one, I think ) and almost got away with it.
The front of some people is quite amazing.
F in L
says...
7:44am Mon 8 Oct 12
vogon1 wrote:You can say that again, the fronts of those two pigs who gorged themselves at Gobi Restaurant is. I wonder who the useless solicitors are.
Quite an audacious crime. It reminds me of the story of some guy who sold famous landmarks back in the 1970's ( Eiffel Tower was one, I think ) and almost got away with it.
The front of some people is quite amazing.
L Grossman
says...
11:34am Mon 8 Oct 12
saveHOVE says...
2:40pm Fri 5 Oct 12
Worse than any squatter this man is!