Serial fraudster jailed at Reading Crown court
Police say Permjit Singh was motivated by 'pure greed'
A man has been jailed for nine years and two months for fraud offences across Berkshire, Surrey, Hertfordshire and Greater London.
Permjit Singh, also known as Paul Singh or Paul Sagoo, aged 58, of no fixed abode, was sentenced at Reading Crown Court.
Following a joint operation with the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS), Singh was arrested on 12 July 2023 after committing high value vehicle fraud.
He was charged the following day with four counts of fraud by false representation in relation to four high value vehicles with a combined value of £498,000.
Ascot
In December 2023, Singh’s landlord reported an incident of fraud. The landlord reported that in August 2022, Singh applied for a tenancy at a property in Ascot, using false information.
He claimed to be the director of a successful business and submitted forged documents, including a payslip and a letter from a fake HR manager. The landlord interviewed the suspect and believed his claims, granting him the tenancy.
By January 2023, Singh’s landlord initiated legal proceedings, claiming a financial loss of £45,000 and emotional distress. The victim, whose identity was used, confirmed he had no connection to the tenancy or the fraudulent documents. Because of Singh’s actions, the victim suffered mental health issues.
Singh was arrested on 4 December 2023, for fraud by false representation and possessing an article for use in fraud supplying forged documents under the Fraud Act 2006. He was charged with these offences on 22 December 2023.
On 6 June this year at Reading Crown Court, Singh pleaded guilty to five counts of fraud by false representation and one count of possession of an article for use in fraud for these matters and was released on conditional bail for sentencing.
Second investigation
Whilst on court bail, it came to light that Singh had committed further fraud offences, and as such, a second investigation was launched and Singh was further arrested and remanded on 13 August 2024.
Between October 2017 and June 2024, Singh committed a series of frauds against a number of telecommunication companies with a combined value of £195,000. He presented that he was the director of numerous businesses in order to obtain a number of business phone contracts.
Singh would obtain devices in store and via call centres often requesting the devices to be sent to his home address rather than a registered business address, which would be normal practice.
To make his cause more believable, he would produce false bank statements and purchase orders for the businesses he was impersonating.
In total, he impersonated 14 directors of 28 different businesses.
Singh subsequently pleaded guilty to five counts of fraud by false representation and one count of making a false statement to obtain a driving license during an appearance at the same court on 16 September.
Twelve further counts of obtaining an article to be used for or in connection with fraud are to lie on file.
Greed
Head of Thames Valley Police’s Central Fraud Unit, Detective Inspector Duncan Wynn, said:
“The significant sentence of over nine years in custody recognises the serious nature of the offending and the impact on the victims.
“Despite being arrested and charged for the first matter, he continued to commit fraud offences under an alias name whilst on bail and it is clear he had no intention of stopping.
“He only stopped when arrested for the second case when, as a result of being charged again, he was remanded into custody.
“His offences were sophisticated and pre-meditated in nature, involving the setting up of fake identities and applications, enabling him to commit the fraudulent activity over a sustained period of time against multiple victims.
“It is clear that he was a determined and highly confident professional fraudster who was able to convince his victims to accept him and the documents he presented as genuine.
“He was prolific in his offending and only stopped when arrested. For this reason a Serious Crime Prevention Order was sought and granted by the judge. This will limit his opportunities to offend when released from prison.
“Wrongly, fraud is often seen as a victimless crime. In this case individual and company funds were stolen in order for the defendant to live a lavish lifestyle from the proceeds. These offences were committed as a result of pure greed and with a complete disregard for the impact and losses caused.
“This conviction and subsequent sentence shows how seriously these offences are taken by the courts and sends a clear message that Thames Valley Police will relentlessly pursue fraud suspects and bring them to justice.
“Great credit goes to Detective Sergeant Jill Collett and her team who diligently investigated this case throughout and ensured that the victims were supported in seeking justice.”