Key Moments:
- A fraudulent group posed as detectives to further exploit people previously defrauded in sports betting scams.
- Three victims paid a total of £110,180 to the perpetrators after being subjected to aggressive demands for payment.
- Four men were convicted and handed sentences ranging from 20 months to four and a half years.
Criminal Scheme Targets Previous Scam Victims
A group of British men received prison sentences after orchestrating a fraudulent scheme that targeted individuals who had already lost money to horse racing and sports betting investment scams. The men contacted their victims by text and phone, offering to recover lost funds in exchange for upfront payments. They presented themselves as private detectives and aggressively pressured the victims for payment once contact was established.
Sentencing Details and Court Proceedings
Teesside Crown Court sentenced the group on September 16, 2025. Judge Francis Laird openly condemned their tactics, emphasizing that these individuals preyed on people who had already suffered significant financial losses and exploited their hopes of recovery.
According to prosecutors, the fraud resulted in three victims handing over a combined total of £110,180. Among them was a woman who had previously lost £20,000, but provided £82,500 to the gang after their approach.
| Name | Sentence | Additional Details |
|---|---|---|
| Christopher Call | 4 years 3 months + 2 years 3 months | Further sentenced for unrelated fraudulent trading |
| Charles Palmer | 4.5 years | Admitted conspiracy to defraud after extradition from Spain |
| Kevin Ratcliffe | 20 months | Provided a Bentley to aid the scam; already serving 14 years for drug offenses |
| Joseph Holden | 2 years 3 months | Allowed his bank account to be used for fraudulent transactions |
Scam Tactics and Unraveling of the Plot
The gang’s operation began with false promises of official assistance, requesting advance fees or commissions and making repeated monetary demands once the victims responded. Their approach eventually raised suspicion in a fourth target, defrauded of £183,000 in an earlier investment scam, who promptly reported the incident to authorities, bringing the fraudulent activities to light.
Further Criminal History Revealed
Court records also referenced past fraud convictions for Christopher Call and his involvement with a roofing business accused of shoddy and overpriced work targeting elderly homeowners. “According to BBC reporting, the extra two years and three months he received were for fraudulent trading linked to his roofing firm, YRB – short for ‘Your Roofing Buddy.'”
- Author
Daniel Williams
