Three people jailed for £350,000 Southsea insurance scam
A fourth suspect was given a suspended prison sentence
Three people have been jailed for eight and a half years between them - for attempted to claim £350,000 of items back in an insurance scam in Southsea.
A fourth person has also been handed a suspended sentence for their involvement in the incident, which followed a burglary back in 2022.
The group have been sentenced at Portsmouth Crown Court as follows:
- 42 year old Dean Ryan, of Pitcroft Road - jailed for four years after previously admitting conspiracy to burgle, conspiracy to commit fraud, and perverting the course of justice
- 45 year old Gary Cleeve, of no fixed address - jailed for three years after being found guilty of conspiracy to burgle
- 46 year old Emma O’Shea, of St Peters Road on Hayling Island - jailed for two years and six months after being found guilty of conspiracy to commit fraud, perverting the course of justice, and attempted witness intimidation
- 70 year old Sarah O’Shea, of Dolman Road in Gosport and Emma's mother - six month suspended sentence and 150 hours of unpaid work after being found guilty of perverting the course of justice
What happened?
A burglary was reported to Hampshire Police in March 2022, with entry gained to an address on Victoria Grove.
The court heard £350,000 worth of jewellery and handbags had been stolen.
But it transpired that the burglary was arranged by Emma O’Shea’s boyfriend Dean Ryan and his associate Gary Cleeve.
Ryan was with O'Shea at her stables while the burglary was undertaken by Cleeve.
When Ryan and O’Shea returned to Victoria Grove, she realised that a window was insecure and knew she wouldn’t get paid by the insurance so asked Ryan to climb up on to the roof and smash the window.
Her insurance policy had a stipulation that entry had to be forced and a window left open would have made it void.
Our investigation subsequently led to Ryan and Cleeve being arrested and charged, Emma O’Shea told officers that she refused to accept Ryan’s involvement.
During the initial trial in July 2023, O’Shea and Ryan agreed that she would fly to Barbados during the trial, so that she was out of the jurisdiction of the UK and couldn’t be compelled to give evidence against him although she had been served with a witness summons.
Ryan also passed on messages via Emma O'Shea's mother Sarah O'Shea who encouraged her to stay out of the country and delete messages on her phone.
Emma O’Shea was arrested on her return to the UK.
Investigating Officer PC Kevin Parker from the Eastern Area Crime Team said: “This complex investigation led to O’Shea, Ryan and Cleeve’s stories unravelling as they tried to evade justice in an attempt to fraudulently claim insurance money.
"We take burglary reports seriously and their actions have taken time and resources that would otherwise have been available to genuine burglary victims. I’m pleased that this sentence sends a clear message that we deal robustly with such offences.
“Our homes are spaces where we should feel the most safe, and for someone to brazenly invade that space can leave a long-lasting scar. Burglary can have a profound impact on victims. I would urge anyone who has been a victim or who sees anything suspicious that could be linked to a burglary to report it to us."