12-month prison sentence for man involved in 'sophisticated' fraud caught in Northampton

A man who was involved in 'sophisticated and ongoing' fraud who was caught in Northampton has been handed a 12-month prison sentence.

Jay Robinson Minz, of Tent Street, Tower Hamlets, London was today (December 15) sentenced at Northampton Crown Court.

The 33-year-old has previously pleaded guilty to courier fraud offences, possessing criminal property, and handling stolen goods on October 14.Minz was arrested in September when police officers were waiting at an address in Harpole where the offender was due to collect £3,500 from an 81-year-old man.

The victim, as well as three other complaints, where told via a phone call claiming to be from a bank that there was suspected fraudulent activity among staff at their respective banks, and that they needed withdraw a sum of money for a courier to collect to keep the cash safe, Northampton Crown Court heard.

Others were also asked to send bank cards to an address in London after being told over the phone that there card had been victim to fraudulent activity.

When Minz, who was acting as the courier for the scheme, was arrested he had four stolen bank cards and £6,300 in his possession.

Mitigation for Minz included no previous convictions, 'genuine remorse', feeling 'ashamed' and claims the defendant took the job as a courier from a friend with no knowledge of the activity until further down the line.

Passing sentence, Judge David Herbet said: "Evidence shows at least two of the victims were elderly and trusting. They were, in any view, vulnerable to this type of fraudulent activity.

"You must have known at all times that what you were doing was part of a planned fraud.

"The reality is you were involved in ongoing, sophisticated fraud."

Minz' 12-month sentence will not be suspended.

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