Property Scam Mastermind Jailed for Nearly 15 Years
Dead Man’s Estate Targeted in Shady Plot
Leslie Gayle-Childs, 59, has been slammed with a hefty 14 years and nine months in jail for a twisted property scam in Hitchin. The fraudster claimed ownership of a house using a fake company he created solely to pull off the con. The property’s original owner died in 2006 without a will, leaving a legal loophole Gayle-Childs eagerly exploited. He falsely insisted the deceased had taken out a loan from his bogus company secured against the house.
Fake Loan Trick Tried to Evict Innocent Tenant
In July 2020, Gayle-Childs took his scam to court, applying to transfer ownership to his sham loan company. He claimed the debt was unpaid and tried to evict the sitting tenant. Shockingly, the court initially ruled in his favour, nearly handing the property over to the con artist.
Retired Cop Sniffs Out the Fraud
Thankfully, retired police officer DC Quinn smelled something fishy. He urged the tenant to report the matter as fraud and even showed up at the civil hearing alongside the tenant. Quinn’s quick thinking helped expose Gayle-Childs’ elaborate scheme and stop the eviction.
