A woman who tried to sell an elderly widow’s family home in west London has been jailed.
Ravina Rattan’s “devastating” plot was foiled when the 72-year-old homeowner reported being locked-out of her own house in Greenford, Ealing.
Rattan, 68, took over her friend’s finances after her husband died in 2006.
The victim, who lived mortgage-free in the four-bedroom house in Verulam Road with her daughter and young granddaughter, does not speak English and had asked Rattan for help.
Rattan agreed and took possession of her bank details, chequebooks, bank cards and ID.
She then took out a £198,891 mortgage in her victim’s name and had it paid into a Barclay’s bank account, St Albans Crown Court was told.
In 2012, the family returned home to find their house had been boarded up and Rattan told them there had been a gas leak.
She refused to let them return home to collect their belongings, the court heard.
Over the following months Rattan lied to the family continuously about why they could not go home and sold their property in secret.
The victim eventually contacted Action Fraud in 2014 and Rattan was arrested.
She was found guilty of fraud by abuse of position and money laundering in December.
The con-artist was jailed for six years at the same court on Friday.
Detective Constable Simon Allen said: "This was a sustained and malicious abuse of trust of a vulnerable woman that resulted in the loss of a family home.
"Rattan has shown no remorse for her crimes and has continued to deny any knowledge of the fraud despite the overwhelming evidence against her gathered by investigating officers.
"The sentence handed down by the court today reflects the severity of Rattan's crimes and the devastating result of her fraudulent behaviour."
If you believe you have been the victim of a fraud, or you suspect someone you know has been a victim, call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.
