Man poses as company director to target branches of HSBC Bank

Wednesday, 15 February 2017 07:00

A persistent fraudster who fleeced five companies of more than £70,000 over a five-month period was caught in Bradford.

Bradford Crown Court was told that Ian Milnthorpe used fake driving licences and claimed to be the company director of a number of firms to trick staff at HSBC branches in Yorkshire, the Midlands and Lancashire into transferring cash.

Prosecutor Howard Shaw produced evidence which proved that between December 2014 and April 2015, Ian oversaw the transfer of £72,109 into various bank accounts. Ian made 16 attempts to get banks to transfer money, and was successful ten times.

The 48-year-old was arrested on the 10^th April 2015, after suspicious staff at HSBC in Shipley called police when he claimed to be Adrian Aslett, a director of Total Tension Solutions Ltd.

Ian Milnthorpe admitted to 16 counts of fraud. Milnthorpe stated “I was scared of the individuals who made me get involved in these scams “

Judge Burn said: “Your record paints a picture of someone who is quite a persistent fraudster. I am afraid nothing that I have heard today tends to make me change that view.”

Milnthorpe was sentenced to 16 months, suspended for two years. He was also given a six-month curfew order, and a 15-day rehabilitation order.

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