Prison for conman who stole thousands from property buyers

A man has been jailed for fraud after conning potential property buyers out of nearly £16,000.

Jaspal Singh Juttla, 64 of Northwood in north west London, is starting a three year jail sentence for four counts of fraud by false representation and one count of carrying on a regulated activity when not authorised to do so.

The offences occurred between May 2019 and January 2021 and relate to four victims, where property buyers were conned into handing over some £15,790.

Juttla claimed to be a mortgage adviser and offered to assist victims with property purchases. He would meet clients – who were predominantly Indian and some spoke little to no English – at various locations in London, including Southall and Hayes. 

Some other victims were targeted at open house viewings.

A statement from the Metropolitan Police says he often promised victims to complete their mortgage applications, arrange a survey for them and put them in touch with a solicitor for conveyancing. 

Once the victims paid the fee requested by Juttla, he would ask for more money to cover other services that he had made up. None of these services were carried out and all arrangements failed to surface for the property buyers.

On occasions, victims contacted him to ask what was going on, but Juttla would make up excuses in an attempt to put the victims at ease. In some instances, he provided victims with a refund by bank transfer but it was never the full amount he had originally received.

Police started an investigation in January 2021 after complaints were made to Action Fraud.

Jutta pleaded guilty to the offences at an earlier hearing last August; he was jailed earlier this week.

DC Anita Sharma, a financial investigator in the Central Specialist Crime Unit, says: “Jaspal Singh Juttla is a persistent fraud who has exploited people in his own community, using their hard-earned money to fund his lifestyle. We are grateful to those victims who have been brave enough to come forward in this case but there may be other people conned by Juttla who have not spoken to police.

“I urge anyone who suspects they may be a victim of Juttla to come forward and report it by calling Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or contacting them online.”