'Disguise and subterfuge' adviser jailed for fraud

A financial adviser has been jailed for five years after using fake identities and disguises to try to defraud banks and building societies out of £3m.

Feruza Fira Mettrick pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud after she rented properties using fake documents and utility bills before pretending to be the real owners and applying for loans.

The 33-year-old was a mortgage applications expert and targeted properties which had no outstanding loans or borrowing against them via letting agents, the Yorkshire Evening Post reports.

According to the FSA register, Mettrick held a CF1 (director) function with Smart Investment Solutions, an appointed representative of London-based The Mortgage Times Group, between March 2008 and March 2009.

Leeds Crown Court was told Mettrick obtained a total of £515,900, with the prosecution claiming potential losses to lending institutions of £2,459,250 through the failed attempts to obtain funds via mortgage loans.

She was eventually arrested at a Royal Bank of Scotland branch in Harrogate in September last year wearing a wig and glasses as part of a disguise.

Prosecuting, Nick Worsley said: "This is sophisticated, repeated and professional offending by a defendant adept at using disguise and subterfuge."

Passing down the sentence, Judge James Spencer added: "She is a conman. I don't accept anything she says."

In addition to her jail sentence, Mettrick still faces a proceeds of crime investigation.