Fraudster sentenced to nearly 15 years for attempted property scam in Hitchin
Leslie Gayle-Childs exploited a deceased homeowner’s estate, using fake companies to claim ownership of a property
A man has been sentenced to more than 14 years in prison after trying to fraudulently seize a property in Hitchin.
Leslie Gayle-Childs, 59, claimed the house belonged to a company he had created solely to carry out the scam.
The former owner of the property passed away in 2006 without leaving a will. Gayle-Childs falsely asserted that the deceased had used the house to secure a loan from his sham company.
In July 2020, he applied to the court for the property to be transferred to the company and requested the eviction of a sitting tenant, claiming the loan had not been repaid.
Initially, the court approved his application. However, a retired police officer, DC Quinn, recognised the situation as fraudulent and advised the tenant to report it.
Quinn also attended the civil proceedings, prompting Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Serious Fraud and Cyber Unit to launch a lengthy investigation. Officers uncovered a network of offshore shell companies established by Gayle-Childs and examined numerous civil claims he had filed.
On 6 February, Leslie Gayle-Childs, formerly of Winnington Close, North London, appeared at Cambridge Crown Court and was sentenced to 14 years and nine months for two counts of fraud by false representation and three counts of perverting the course of justice.
Hertfordshire Constabulary has also sought a Criminal Behaviour Order to prevent Gayle-Childs from committing further offences after his release.
Hertfordshire Constabulary also applied for a Criminal Behaviour Order against Leslie Gayle-Childs to restrict any further offending upon his release.
Detective Constable Sian Beames, from Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Serious Fraud and Cyber Unit, said:
“Leslie Gayle-Charles saw an opportunity to obtain a property with no registered owner and set up an elaborate fraud, involving false identities and offshore shell companies to back up his web of lies.
"The tenant of the property was faced with eviction and suffered terribly because of these actions.
"Gayle-Childs knew enough to complicate and confuse the legal process which initially led to the court awarding him ownership of the property.
“Thanks to the intervention of retired police officer DC Quinn, we were able to unravel deceit planned and executed by Gayle-Childs."