A career fraudster who claims he was once a semi-professional footballer conned a pensioner out of more than £340,000 and used the money to live like a Premier League star jetting off on first class flights and living in a £3million mansion.
Abdul Ibraheem, 36, targeted 84-year-old Alan Potter who had already been the victim of a boiler room scam that saw him lose £1.8million after convincing the former accounting firm owner that he could recover the money for him.
Ibraheem took £50,000 from Mr Potter to begin with but eventually rinsed the pensioner of over £340,000 – £200,000 of which was in cash – leaving him ‘on the verge of possible bankruptcy’ that could see him forced to sell his home.
With Mr Potter’s money Ibraheem decked out his mansion with a £14,000 piano, a £3000 marble kitchen, an £800 bonsai tree, a room for his trainer collection and expensive artwork, including a limited edition Banksy print.
Abdul Ibraheem was sentenced to a total of 61 months which he will serve half in custody when he will be released on licence
The father-of-two also took his family on luxury holiday to Greece, flew first class to Ibiza and joined a private members club in Knightsbridge before police caught him and raided his house.
Ibraheem convinced letting agents in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, that he was a £500,000-a-year City hedge fund manager and signed a tenancy agreement on the £8000-a-month, £3million house.
When a judge asked Ibraheem if he had ever had a job, the conman said he had been a semi-professional footballer and coach on the books of Chelsea FC before becoming a career fraudster.
He also claimed to have played for a string of other clubs including Gillingham.
Mr Potter, from West Sussex, described Ibraheem as well spoken and sounding like he had a university education.
In a victim impact statement, Mr Potter said: ‘I found him persuasive and believable in everything he said.
‘When the full realisation of his activities and the lifestyle he was living on my money fully came home to me, I was embarrassed.’
Inside the £8000-a-month, £3million house Ibraheem filled with luxury goods using 84-year-old Alan Potter’s money
The luxury goods were packed into a police van after officers got a search warrant and raided the property
Mr Potter said he lacked confidence in his own decision making after being duped by Ibraheem.
In court he said: ‘Is my judgement of any value?
‘I have lost a huge amount of money and am now on the verge of possible bankruptcy.
‘This money would have paid for me in my old age. I may have to sell my home.’
Nicholas Mather for the Crown said Ibraheem exploited vulnerabilities and used his advantage to extract money from people in a practised and professional manner.
Mr Mather added: ‘He was not taking money to give to others. He was benefiting and living a luxury lifestyle due to his fraudulent activity.’
Ibraheem admitted nine charges with another two left on file at Lewes Crown Court in Brighton.
His Honour Judge Jeremy Gold KC sentenced him to a total of 61 months which he will serve half in custody when he will be released on licence.
