Pension fraudsters jailed

Two fraudsters were sentenced to prison for their roles in a series of scams that cost 245 people millions of pounds in pension savings.

Alan Barratt, 62, and Susan Dalton, 66, duped people into transferring money to schemes by investing in real estate or “truffle trees.” Barratt and Dalton admitted to fraud in connection with their roles as pension trustees.

More than £13 million in pension savings were transferred, with the majority of the funds going to the criminal enterprise’s mastermind, David Austin of Guildford, Surrey. In a previous case, evidence was presented that he used it to live a life of luxury, including ski vacations and trips.

The money was diverted offshore and used to fund his businesses, pay others involved in the operation, and enrich himself and his family members. He committed suicide in 2019 before the criminal investigation was concluded.

Barratt was sentenced to five years and seven months in prison at Southwark Crown Court on Friday, April 2022, while Dalton was sentenced to four years and eight months. As the sentences were read out, both stood and stared straight ahead on the dock.

Judge Gregory Perrins, who handed down the sentence, said the pair caused “such misery to so many people,” with victims suffering from mental health issues and some even attempting suicide.