Hissan Dar was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison
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A bank advisor who stole over £110,000 from a Richmond couple was sentenced to three and a half years in jail last week.
Hissan Dar, 26, groomed the two customers, who have learning difficulties, so that he could help himself to their money which he then spent on gambling and shopping.
Dar, of Blackthorne Court, Dormers Wells Lane, cultivated a personal relationship with the 58-year-old man and his 60-year-old wife after discovering they had received a large inheritance in March 2011.
The court heard that Dar preyed on the couple’s fear of fraud and overspending to convince them to give him their debit cards, which he used to spend in excess of £75,000 on gambling.
He also took out six personal loans valued at £29,000 in the victims’ names without their permission.
He made numerous calls to them from his mobile and to their home and the couple formed such a close bond to him that they even brought him back gifts when they went on holiday.
Councillor Tony Arbour, Richmond Council Cabinet Member for Performance and Community Safety urged people to be vigilant so that no-one else finds themselves in a similar situation.
“This is an appalling example of someone who preys on vulnerable adults in a bid to steal their money and con them out of their savings,” he said.
“It is shocking and disappointing to find out that someone, who is employed in a position of trust, would exploit his position.”
Following an investigation, the police arrested Dar in July, and he pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey in May 2013.
Since the crime was uncovered, Richmond Council has been supporting the two residents to help them come to terms with the situation and ensure they don’t become victims again.
DC Martin Godsave, of the DCPCU, said that Dar’s deception had a massive impact on his victims, particularly on their ability to trust others.
“Dar held a position of great trust but coldly used this to identify two vulnerable customers and callously exploit their training trusting nature in order to get their money,” he said.
Anyone concerned that a vulnerable adult is experiencing abuse or neglect should report it to the police or the council’s safeguarding team on 020 8891 7971.
Photo courtesy of 401(K) 2013, with thanks.
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