An Isle of Wight man has been jailed for defrauding a dying war veteran out of thousands of pounds.
The Isle of Wight Crown Court heard how Michael Alan Wilson, of Harvey Road, Newport, pretended to be retired serviceman Frederick Lucy, in order to obtain his war pension.
Between August 13 and September 23, 2019, Wilson made five calls to the Veterans UK helpline asking for Mr Lucy's money to be rerouted to his account.
The calls were recorded and the male caller, later found to be Wilson, coughed and spluttered, trying to disguise his own voice
During this time Mr Lucy was actually in the care of a local hospital and not in a fit condition to make such calls. He sadly passed away on August 28.
Over the coming weeks, five payments of £433.42 were paid into an account in the name of Michael Wilson, totalling £2,167.10.
Following enquiries by MDP Portsmouth, on August 28 2020, Wilson was arrested for fraud offences at his home address on the Island, which was was subsequently searched.
His bank account statements were seized, showing all the payments from Veterans UK being received into an account in his name, along with a bank card for the same account also in his name.
During an interview on August 28, 2020, at Newport Police Station, Wilson stated that he was not related to the veteran, but that he did know him as he had met him twice at a local bed and breakfast.
He also claimed that he had attended the veteran’s funeral with his ex-partner.
Wilson proceeded to state that his ex-partner was solely responsible for the act of fraud against the veteran, as they had access to his bank account, bank card and phone. When played the tape recording of the phone calls to Veterans UK, Mr Wilson stated that it was his ex-partner on the phone.
However, when interviewed under caution and upon voluntary attendance at Bournemouth Police Station, the ex-partner denied all knowledge of fraud. Further police enquiries established they were at work in Bournemouth when the phone calls were made - many miles and a ferry ride away from the Island.
Wilson was subsequently charged with fraud and perverting the course of justice.
Following court appearances at Isle of Wight Crown Court, Wilson pleaded guilty to both offences, and he was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment: nine months for fraud and a consecutive nine months for Perverting the course of Justice.
MDP Portsmouth identified that a sum of money had been seized by Hampshire Police in an unrelated investigation and that was due to be returned to Mr Wilson.
MDP Crime Command successfully had a restraint order approved against the money, and the funds will be used to reimburse Veterans UK and the remaining monies were awarded to Crown Prosecution Service costs by the presiding judge.
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