'Conniving' conman's victim loses firm and marriage

A victim of a prolific fraudster has said he lost both his business and his marriage after being conned out of £40,000.

Mital Mehta has been jailed for five years and three months after he pleaded guilty to 21 counts of fraud which are believed to have cost his 24 victims more than £560,000.

He promised his victims significant returns from their investment in a protein bar business and the buying and selling of tickets to Premier League football matches, but never returned their money.

One victim said he lost both his livelihood and family as a result of Mehta's actions, while another described him as "unscrupulous" and "conniving".

The first victim, who wished to remain anonymous, said he met Mehta at a pub in 2018, where they started chatting about football and betting.

Mehta then asked if he wanted to invest in buying and selling tickets to football matches, which led the victim to give him £1,500.

He received £2,000 in return from Mehta, who then began asking for larger sums of money to invest in the business.

The victim handed over £40,000, but did not receive any money in return and challenged Mehta, who claimed HM Revenue and Customs had frozen his bank accounts.

The victim said their business had previously been successful and employed a number of staff, but that changed after he was misled by Mehta.

He added: "I couldn't pay myself or staff – I had to sell my own vehicles and the company vehicles to pay wages. I couldn't pay my suppliers and eventually had to close the business down.

"These losses led to the breakdown of my marriage - my wife and children left me due to the stress and financial issues. Friends and family, who I had borrowed money from, lost trust in me.

"I am extremely angry and upset to learn that I wasn't the only victim. I am hoping this case demonstrates to others the dangers and impact these offences can have."

A second victim who also wished to remain anonymous, said he was duped out of more than £19,000 after Mehta preyed on his vulnerability caused by several years of ill health.

Mehta promised the second victim large returns for investment in his protein bar business.

In a personal statement read at Leicester Crown Court, the victim said: "Mehta preyed on my vulnerability, promising me a chance to still feel like I could provide for my family, feel worthy and have a purpose in life.

"I was worried for my family in case my ill health took a turn for the worse and I wanted to make sure that they would be left financially stable.

"I now know that he was a fraud and unscrupulous. He took nearly £20,000 and promised me returns of £35,000. He spun me a load of lies about his life and his family and exploited me for his own gain.

"He is conniving and has no thoughts for the impact his actions have on individuals and their lives."

Mehta, 45, of Jamie Marcus Way, Oadby, was jailed for five years and three months on Friday after he pleaded guilty to 21 charges of fraud in December.

Speaking after the sentencing, Det Con Sarah Askham, from Leicestershire Police's Economic Crime Unit, said: "This was a lengthy and extremely complex investigation. The volume of victims who had been duped by the defendant was significant.

"The businesses never existed and Mehta used the money to fund his own lifestyle including his gambling habit.

"We are pleased Mehta admitted to the offences and we hope the fact that he now faces a significant time in prison makes him understand the seriousness of his criminality."

Det Con Askham said the force now planned to approach the court for a confiscation order, in an effort to recover money Mehta defrauded from his victims.

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