TWO men have been jailed for a combined 14 years for fraud following an extensive investigation by Operation Benadir.

Graham Wortley, 58, of Dunbeath Avenue, in Rainhill, and Robert Ware, 43, of Old Mill Lane, in Liverpool, both appeared at Liverpool Crown Court today, Friday October 20, after they were found guilty following a three month trial for conspiracy to defraud.

Wortley was sentenced to six years and Ware sentenced to eight years in prison.

Following a complex investigation, which lasted six years, specialist detectives and officers were able to prove that the two men were instrumental in a wide-scale fraud conspiracy.

It was found that Wortley and Ware encouraged loan firms to give them short-term bridging loans against properties they had purchased.

Then then sent forged documents to the HM Land Registry in order to get rid of the protection offered to lenders, which allowed them to refinance or sell the properties to other individuals, including wealthy investors from Saudi Arabia.

Clive Myerscough, Fraud Investigator with Merseyside Police, said: “It’s very satisfying to see that justice has been secured for all those affected.

"The actions of Wortley and Ware placed a number of innocent businesses under significant financial pressure and sadly an established firm of solicitors went into administration. This had a devastating impact not only on their partners but also their staff, some of whom lost their jobs.

“This would have undoubtedly caused distress and worry for everyone involved, and of course for their loved ones.

"This impact was clearly lost on Wortley and Ware and they will now be left to consider the full consequences behind bars.

“The HM Land Registry has also suffered financial losses and these losses of course come at a cost to the public purse.

Detective Inspector Holly Chance, who was the senior investigating officer, added "Fraud can and does devastate individuals and businesses, and thankfully these two men have now been prevented from causing any more harm, and will hopefully have learnt a tough lesson about how seriously police and the courts take such matters.”

You can report fraud to Merseyside Police by calling 101 or DM @MerPolCC on Twitter of ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’ on Facebook.

Action Fraud is the UK’s national fraud and cybercrime reporting centre. If you believe you have been a victim of fraud you can contact them on 0300 123 2040 or go to www.actionfraud.police.uk