Three jailed over mortgage fraud

8 September 2010 | By Natalie Thomas

Michael Browne, from Canley in Coventry, built up a portfolio of property across the city on the back of a string of false mortgage applications.

He was sentenced to three years in prison, but had his sentenced reduced due to time spent on remand and the fact that he entered a guilty plea.

Officers working on Operation Closedown, a major police operation to tackle crime in Coventry, arrested Browne in November 2008. A lengthy financial investigation followed and identified numerous people involved in mortgage fraud.

The 49-year-old city man, who also has a villa in Spain, now faces losing everything as West Midlands Regional Asset Recovery Team vow to claw back his wealth.

Money obtained through the frauds was used to purchase the six bed villa, which was raided by officers from the West Midlands Regional Asset Recovery team and the Spanish police in November 2008.

Browne used the specialist skills and knowledge of an independent financial advisor, Mark Campbell, to acquire loans overstating his income in mortgage applications.

Campbell was convicted after the jury heard how he falsified incomes and produced false letters of employment and references.

Campbell was sentenced to five and a half years jail along with his partners at Birmingham Crown Court.

In some instances Campbell also from Coventry would obtain mortgages for Browne and his family and associates with a ‘no questions asked attitude’, without signing forms or producing proof of income a mortgage was obtained.

Campbell also used the services of another man, Andrew Harris from Keresley in Coventry, to produce false payslips. Harris pleaded guilty in 2009 and will be sentenced at a later date.

Browne’s business partner in a property development company called MIDA developments, David Vincent Smith, also from Tile Hill, Coventry, was also convicted of the offences after a five week trial earlier this year. Smith also used Campbell to obtain loans using false references and inflated incomes.

Smith will serve three and a half years in prison.

Police will now begin legal proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act to ensure the three mens’ assets are seized and ploughed back into fighting crime.

Browne is said to have acquired “huge wealth” through the organised con, which he ran for many years.

Det Inspector Chris Berrow, of the Regional Asset Recovery Team, says: “Browne pleaded guilty at an early stage when he saw the overwhelming evidence against him, Campbell and Smith however denied the fraud to the end even though there was overwhelming documentary evidence that showed they lied to banks and lending institutes time and time again.

“Campbell abused his position and used his knowledge and skills to obtain a mortgage for anyone who wanted one, no matter whether they were employed or not. He even acquired property for family members using false applications to ensure they benefitted too.”

The three men were caught in the net which police spread over the city as part of Operation Closedown in November and December 2008.

The crackdown, primarily to tackle drug related crime, saw 39 people arrested and handed more than 140 years in prison.

A total of £6 million worth of assets has been restrained pending financial investigation and future court cases – a figure that could rise with the sentencing of Browne and his accomplices.

Det Inspector Berrow added: “Closedown was a long term complex investigation which has put organised criminals on the back foot, and we still have not finished investigating others involved in this matter, other suspects remain on bail and further offences are being investigated.

“These men profited from fraud when people around them are working hard to get their foot on the property ladder.

“We will now endeavour to ensure any money gathered in the course of their crimes is recovered so that their efforts are in vain.”

All three men have their assets restrained and are prevented from selling any of their houses, disposing of any of their assets, if anyone has any knowledge of any property or assets these men may have please call the police or crimestoppers so that we can ensure they do not benefit from their crime in the future.