Gang jailed for £6m investment scam that targeted more than 150 victims
The remaining defendants were all found guilty in March after a six-month trial and were also sentenced on Tuesday.
The gang targeted mainly elderly victims aged between 60 and 90 with high-pressure sales tactics to push them into handing over money – one said she was 'hounded' into parting with her savings.
They befriended some of the people they scammed, forged documents and impersonated insurance brokers in order to steal cash.
The largest individual loss was £250,000.
Lillian Milner, 57, of Sliven Clod Road, Rossendale, Lancashire, was jailed for five years and six months for conspiracy to defraud and money laundering, while her husband Graham Milner, 55, of the same address, received three years and six months for money laundering.
The Sable website (City of London Police/PA)
Another two men were jailed for conspiracy to defraud and money laundering – Mark Fallon, 60, of Haslingden Old Road, Rossendale, Lancashire, was sentenced to four years and six months; and Anthony Flaton, 39, of Beauclerk Green, Winchfield, Hampshire, was jailed for five years.
David Clarkson's son Paul Clarkson, 46, of Shawbridge Street, Clitheroe, Lancashire, was sentenced to 20 months' imprisonment, suspended for two years, and ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work, for money laundering.
City of London Police and bank staff managed to recover more than £2 million of the stolen money.
One victim said in his impact statement: 'I have found it increasingly harder to face the day and rarely have a good night's sleep with difficulty finding the motivation to get on with the daily tasks at hand.
'Dealing with this case has been very overwhelming and mentally consuming, often leaving me feeling very depressed with a general loss of faith in humanity.'
Lillian Milner bought herself a Porsche while many unsuspecting elderly victims lost their life savings.
Lillian Milner's Porsche (City of London Police/PA)
Detective Constable Jay Smith from City of London Police said: 'These fraudsters stole life savings from hundreds, abusing their trusted positions out of pure greed.
'Clarkson, in particular, showed no remorse – cloning a regulated insurer and impersonating the broker to trick victims and later forging medical documents to avoid trial.
'Faced with overwhelming evidence, he eventually pleaded guilty.
'I thank the victims and their families for their strength and co-operation, and we remember those who sadly passed during the process. I hope this result brings some comfort.
'We remain committed to pursuing those who abuse trust and exploit the vulnerable. Let this case be a warning: you will be found, prosecuted and convicted.'
The police investigation was launched when suspicious payments were made by a company called Sable Intl Ltd to a newly formed law firm in August 2016.
Sable claimed to invest in property, and opened a £3.5 million bond scheme offering fake returns of 7% to lure in victims.
Police found that the trio behind the company, David Clarkson, Lillian Milner and Flaton, had links to an earlier investment scheme called Equitable Law Capital (ELC).
In reality, none of the investments was genuine, with the trio using internet advertising, cold calling and company brochures to convince victims.
Graham Milner and Paul Clarkson were appointed group directors of ELC when they had no relevant experience, and became involved in money laundering.
A front company based in the Seychelles and Switzerland was used to disguise the fact the money had come from crime.
Lillian Milner and Fallon, who was a solicitor, also used a newly set up law firm to launder money, with commission payments to Flaton going through an account in Mauritius.
Both ELC and Sable went into administration and voluntary liquidation at the end of 2016, owing a total of more than £4 million.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
5 hours ago
- Metro
How city gangsters who sold high-grade cocaine to 10,000 clients were busted
A ring of high-end cocaine dealers behind one of the biggest drug operations ever seen in the City of London has been dismantled. The gang, headed by a 57-year-old grandfather who fronted as an antiques dealer, had more than 10,000 clients on their books. It's thought their line, called Top Gear or City Gear, was particularly popular with wealthy Londoners who work and party in the Square Mile. Detectives said the purity of their cocaine was up to 60% higher than the street average, allowing them to charge higher prices. Ledgers showed they made sales of £14,480 in just one week, suggesting they could have netted as much as £728,000 a year. 'This was a serious and sophisticated drug supply operation which would have resulted in large quantities of cocaine being sold over an extended period of time,' said DC Matt Cooper of the City of London Police's Serious Organised Crime Team. 'This was one of the longest running and biggest cocaine lines in the City of London.' Head honcho Nathan Samuels led the operation while reportedly running a a business selling antiques and jewellery and living in a council house near Waterloo Station. He was helped by his son Matthew, 33, and Islington-based 24-year-old Josh Atherton. The drugs were couriered to clients by Aaron Bretao, 43, Martin Gupta, 38, and Michael Redgrave, 56, a licensed taxi driver who used his black cab to get to drop-offs. Detectives began penetrating the operation after catching another courier, Gary Miller, 36, from Islington, making a cocaine delivery. Using his phone records they were able to piece together details of customers and fellow couriers. The bust was unusual because it reportedly involved almost no large-scale drug seizures. According to MailOnline, the couriers were arrested shortly after making drop-offs in the summer of 2023. Cocaine was recovered from stunned customers, while call data and delivery locations allowed officers to make arrests without the couriers having drugs on them. The seizure of more phones then enabled detectives to uncover details about the more senior members of the operation. Samuels and his son were arrested simultaneously around two months after their couriers were arrested. DC Cooper added: 'We will continue to work tirelessly to disrupt and tackle serious and organised crime groups and these sentences demonstrate our commitment to putting criminals involved in drug lines and drug supply behind bars. 'We hope that this sends out a clear message to those involved in the illegal drugs trade, as well as a reassurance to members of the public, that we will take action against those criminals and bring them to justice.' The six were sentenced today at London's Inner Crown Court after being convicted of supplying cocaine. Samuels senior was jailed today for nine years, while his son was sentenced to three-and-a-half years. Redgrave, of Cornwall Road, SE1, was jailed to for two years and nine months. Bretao received three years in jail, while Gupta received four years and three months. Atherton, who also pleaded guilty of possession of a weapon for the discharge of a noxious liquid, was jailed for two years. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page.
South Wales Guardian
a day ago
- South Wales Guardian
Gang jailed for dealing cocaine to thousands of users in the City of London
The group, behind a line called Top Gear or City Gear, were sentenced at Inner London Crown Court on Thursday for selling the Class A drug between March 1 2022 and October 14 2023. Officers from City of London Police went through phone records to build a case against the gang, who ran one of the largest cocaine dealing operations in the Square Mile. Ledgers showed they racked up sales of 410 wraps of cocaine per week, worth more than £14,000. The drugs dealing line was originally set up during the Covid lockdowns and used the Top Gear logo on WhatsApp, City of London Police said. It was taken down after one member was arrested and police could begin analysing phone records. Detective Constable Matt Cooper said: 'This was a serious and sophisticated drug supply operation which would have resulted in large quantities of cocaine being sold over an extended period of time. 'This was one of the longest running and biggest cocaine lines in the City of London. 'We will continue to work tirelessly to disrupt and tackle serious and organised crime groups and these sentences demonstrate our commitment to putting criminals involved in drug lines and drug supply behind bars.' At Inner London Crown Court on Thursday, head of the gang Nathan Samuels, 57, of Cornwall Road, Waterloo, in central London, was jailed for nine years for the supply of cocaine. Three of the gang's couriers were also jailed for the supply of cocaine. Black cab driver Michael Redgrave, 56, also of Cornwall Road, was sentenced to two years and nine months; Aaron Bretao 43, of Skinner Street, Clerkenwell, central London, to three years; and Martin Gupta, 38, of Fairgreen Court, Barnet, north London, to four years and three months. Matthew Samuels, 33, of Rotherhithe New Road, Bermondsey, south-east London, admitted possession with intent to supply cannabis and being concerned in the supply of cannabis, and was found guilty of being involved in the supply of cocaine. He was sentenced to three-and-a-half-years in prison. Josh Atherton, 24, of Hemingford Road, Islington, north London, was given sentences suspended for two years, of two years for the supply of cocaine and four months for possession of a weapon for the discharge of a noxious liquid.
North Wales Chronicle
a day ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Gang jailed for dealing cocaine to thousands of users in the City of London
The group, behind a line called Top Gear or City Gear, were sentenced at Inner London Crown Court on Thursday for selling the Class A drug between March 1 2022 and October 14 2023. Officers from City of London Police went through phone records to build a case against the gang, who ran one of the largest cocaine dealing operations in the Square Mile. Ledgers showed they racked up sales of 410 wraps of cocaine per week, worth more than £14,000. The drugs dealing line was originally set up during the Covid lockdowns and used the Top Gear logo on WhatsApp, City of London Police said. It was taken down after one member was arrested and police could begin analysing phone records. Detective Constable Matt Cooper said: 'This was a serious and sophisticated drug supply operation which would have resulted in large quantities of cocaine being sold over an extended period of time. 'This was one of the longest running and biggest cocaine lines in the City of London. 'We will continue to work tirelessly to disrupt and tackle serious and organised crime groups and these sentences demonstrate our commitment to putting criminals involved in drug lines and drug supply behind bars.' At Inner London Crown Court on Thursday, head of the gang Nathan Samuels, 57, of Cornwall Road, Waterloo, in central London, was jailed for nine years for the supply of cocaine. Three of the gang's couriers were also jailed for the supply of cocaine. Black cab driver Michael Redgrave, 56, also of Cornwall Road, was sentenced to two years and nine months; Aaron Bretao 43, of Skinner Street, Clerkenwell, central London, to three years; and Martin Gupta, 38, of Fairgreen Court, Barnet, north London, to four years and three months. Matthew Samuels, 33, of Rotherhithe New Road, Bermondsey, south-east London, admitted possession with intent to supply cannabis and being concerned in the supply of cannabis, and was found guilty of being involved in the supply of cocaine. He was sentenced to three-and-a-half-years in prison. Josh Atherton, 24, of Hemingford Road, Islington, north London, was given sentences suspended for two years, of two years for the supply of cocaine and four months for possession of a weapon for the discharge of a noxious liquid.
