A man has been sent to prison for scamming an elderly blind woman out of her home and savings before escaping abroad.
72 year old Mogens Hauschild, was originally charged for the fraud in 2007 but disappeared a year later whilst awaiting trial. He fled abroad to Germany, where he was arrested after police had circulated him as wanted.
Hauschildt posed as a trustworthy family friend and financial expert to scam his victim of her £500,000 home and £453,000 inherited wealth.
The victim, who was 84 years of age at the time was befriended by Hauschild and persuaded to transfer her home, where she had lived for more than 50 years to one of his companies. He also forged letters and documents to secure a £307,000 loan against the stolen property.
Sentenced to 10 years
After a lengthy legal battle, the victim now aged 91 has succeeded in transferring her home back into her ownership and police are trying to retrieve some of her savings.
Hauschildt was sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court to 10 years imprisonment.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Mark Loftus, of the Fraud Squad, said: "Mogens Hauschildt was friendly and persuasive and the victim trusted that he was giving her sound financial advice. She believed he was securing her house for the future benefit of her family but in reality he took over ownership and stole much of her life savings by assuming control of her finances, giving her some cheques and cash (like pocket money) whilst using the rest for himself and his family.
"This has been a lengthy and complex investigation and I am pleased and relieved that Mogens Hauschildt is finally where he belongs, behind bars."
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