CPS News Brief

Man convicted of ‘Ponzi’ investment scheme, taking £2.3 million from 28 victims

For information: Geoffrey Langdale, from North Yorkshire, has today [Thursday 25 September 2014] been sentenced to six years at Bradford Crown Court after he was found guilty of running a ‘Ponzi’ investment scheme.

Debra Chan, Senior Crown Prosecutor in the CPS said:

“Over a period of 11 years Geoffrey Langdale abused his position as a trusted accountant while his victims, reassured by the reputation of his longstanding accountancy practice, were encouraged to invest money in his fraudulent “Ponzi” scheme.

“He fooled genuine investors by producing fraudulent documents and forging company logos to imply their money was safe. Instead of investing his clients’ money as promised, he used more than £1m to prop up his own companies including investing in a chemical company that later collapsed. As his debt spiralled out of control, he simply encouraged more and more people to invest in the scam.

“This conviction highlights Geoffrey Langdale’s dishonesty and the blatant disregard for the welfare of his clients.”

Between 2002 and 2013, Mr Langdale organised what is known as a ‘Ponzi’ investment scheme, involving 28 victims who invested various amounts of money ranging from £10,000 to £260,850. Mr Langdale told the victims that their money would be invested into an ‘umbrella’ account with high interest rates of a legitimate company which was a subsidiary of a well-known high street bank. In total, Mr Langdale received £2,333,487.57 in investments from his victims, only returning £1,150,840.59 to some of them, with a total of £1,182,646.98 still owed to the others.

Geoffrey Langdale was convicted of:

Count 1

Obtaining a money transfer by deception, contrary to section 15A of the Theft Act 1968

Count 2

Fraud, contrary to section 1 of the Fraud Act 2006

Man to be charged over Iraqi road side bombs

Deborah Walsh, Deputy Head of Counter Terrorism at the Crown Prosecution Service, said:

“Following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police Service, I have today authorised charges against Anis Abid Sardar in connection to a number of road side improvised explosive devices (IEDs) recovered from the Al Anbar province of Iraq in 2007.

“It is alleged that Mr Sardar conspired to murder coalition forces operating in Iraq on or before 22 November 2007 by conspiring to cause the explosion of these IEDs. The decision to prosecute was taken in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors. I have determined that there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and that a prosecution is in the public interest.”

Anis Abid Sardar, of North West London, will be charged with the following offences:

• One count of conspiracy to murder, contrary to section 1 of the Criminal Law Act 1977: Anis Abid Sardar on or before 22 November 2007, within the jurisdiction of the Central Criminal Court, conspired with Sajjad Nabil Salih Al S Adnan to murder others unknown.
• One count of conspiring to cause an explosion with intent to endanger life or property contrary to section 3(1)(a) of the Explosive Substances Act 1883: Anis Abid Sardar on or before 22 November 2007, within the jurisdiction of the Central Criminal Court, unlawfully and maliciously conspired with Sajjad Nabil Salih Al S Adnan to cause by an explosive substance explosions of a nature likely to endanger life or cause serious injury to property.

Ms Walsh said:

“Anis Abid Sardar will appear before Westminster Magistrates' Court tomorrow, 25 September 2014.

“May I remind all concerned that Mr Sardar has a right to a fair trial. It is very important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings. For these reasons, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further."

For Information: The consent of the Attorney or Solicitor Generals is required for both these offences. This was granted by the Solicitor.

CPS Statement on David Griffin

Jenny Hopkins, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor for the CPS in London, said:

“David Griffin, also known as Dave Lee Travis, indecently assaulted a young woman by touching her in a way that was not only deeply invasive but also against the law. We thank the jury for their careful consideration in this case and we respect all the verdicts of the court today.

“The prosecution of sexual offences is often difficult and complex, perhaps even more so when the allegations are from some years ago. We will continue to consider cases and, wherever there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest, we will work with police to build strong cases which can be put before the court.”