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Wayward half-sister of life peer Lord Ouseley exposed as high-living fraudster

Lord Ouseley, chairman of the Football Association Race Equality Advisory Group
Lord Ouseley, chairman of the Football Association Race Equality Advisory Group

The wayward half-sister of a campaigning life peer is facing a return to jail after being convicted of fraud offences.

Lord Ouseley, chairman of the Football Association Race Equality Advisory Group, gave evidence for the prosecution during Dawn Simon's trial.

Simon, of Coleshall Cottages, Sheerstone, Iwade, near Sittingbourne, has been convicted of mortgage fraud, conspiracy to conceal criminal property, conspiracy to possess criminal property, making a false representation to obtain benefit, failing to notify a change of circumstances, fraud by making a false misrepresentation and converting criminal property.

Also in the dock were Simon's nephew Daniel Wade, of Holloway, north London, and her partner Peter Harvey, of Tottenham, north London.

Harvey, 50, was convicted of conspiracy to convert and possess criminal property. Wade, 29, was convicted of fraud. The charges were all denied.

Maidstone Crown Court heard the three enjoyed the high life by committing mortgage and benefit fraud.

Their criminality was discovered in November 2011 when Harvey went to Sittingbourne police station following a domestic dispute with Simon and revealed she had acquired her home by encouraging Wade to pose as a mortgage applicant.

Personal documents and payslips were forged too enable Wade to obtain a £379,000 mortgage. The six-bedroom property was then occupied by Simon under a bogus tenancy agreement with Wade.

Maidstone Crown Court. Picture: John Wardley
Maidstone Crown Court. Picture: John Wardley

Simon, 51, was also fraudulently claiming benefits, including child tax support, while enjoying a luxury lifestyle of expensive jewellery, holidays to Dubai, Las Vegas and New York and numerous vehicles including a £140,000 Bentley SS.

She had also been paying the monthly mortgage payments in full for Wade on the property, despite not being in full time employment.

Police said evidence was found at Simon’s home of purse thefts from all over the London, suggesting she would target victims at cashpoints and make a note of their PINs before following them, stealing purses and handbags and systematically draining bank accounts.

Stolen property including mobile phones, digital camera memory cards and jewellery were identified.

Before the jury returned, arrogant Harvey was heard to say: "Thank you for saying not guilty so that we can go home." As the jurors filed back out after delivering verdicts he mumbled comments to them.

Judge Philip St John-Stevens adjourned sentence until June 24 and granted all three bail. He told Simon: "You have a bad record and can expect a custodial sentence."

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