Conspiracy to defraud trial results in conviction

Acting on behalf of Oxfordshire Trading Standards, Richard Heller prosecuted a complex matter which resulted in the conviction of the defendant, Lewis McEwan, for conspiring with an unidentified co-conspirator to defraud an elderly man by acquiring the freehold title to his home under an unauthorised reversion scheme, which would have resulted in the complainant transferring the entirety of his equitable interest in the property at a fraction of its true value.

The jury heard the expert evidence of two chartered surveyors and a chartered builder, in addition to a consumer credit and regulatory compliance consultant and technical specialists from the Financial Conduct Authority on the operation of equity release schemes under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and the Regulated Activities Order.

Richard was instructed by Maxine Davis of the Public Protection Partnership.