Man guilty in 23-alias mortgage fraud

Man guilty in 23-alias mortgage fraud




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After opening 37 bank accounts using different aliases, a man succeeded in fraudulently obtaining more than £64,000 from High Street lenders.

Damien Martin James, originally from Somerset, acquired a £250,000 mortgage from a High Street bank and opened accounts with Royal Bank of Scotland, HSBC and Lloyds TSB, all whilst using several different passports. He reportedly used in excess of 23 aliases. 

According to the Bournemouth Echo, Judge John Harrow said in court: “You are a thoroughly dishonest man. You gave false details to the Chelsea Building Society to gain £211,000, fell into arrears and the property had to be sold and there was a loss to them of £60,000.”

He fell into mortgage arrears and had overdrafts ranging from £246 to £3,944, the Echo reports. 

James, who pleaded guilty to ten counts of fraud, has been jailed for four years and two months. His sentence also encompasses two separate offences for assault after James, 45, was found guilty of kicking the owner of a restaurant and punching a hotel landlord.

James’ lawyer reportedly claimed he had turned to drink after the death of his wife three years prior.

 

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