Frank Ngwa & Niaz Khan [2019] EWCA Crim 1145

The applicants pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud, described as a large scale and sophisticated fraud operating over a period of nearly two and a half years. Ngwa was sentenced to 1 year and 9 months’ imprisonment and Khan to 1 year and 6 months, concurrent sentences were imposed on them for a second count of conspiracy to defraud. Ngwa also faced a charge of supplying articles for use in frauds and was sentenced to a consecutive term of 2 years and 7 months. Khan faced a separate charge of possessing articles for use in frauds and was sentenced to a consecutive term of 1 year and 6 months.

The first count related to a large number of railway tickets fraudulently obtained to a value of over £55,000. The second conspiracy related to credit card transactions for goods and services other than railway tickets amounting to just under £15,000. Ngwa sent a number of messages containing credit card and other personal details and there was a Skype chat in which he gave advice on how to carry our credit card fraud. Khan was in possession of cloned cards and equipment for making them, there were online chats in which he openly discussed fraud.

 The sentences were upheld.