Fake father and son advisers handed suspended sentence

A father and son who masqueraded as financial advisers have been given a suspended jail sentence after conning £15,000 out of a couple and using the money for their own purposes.

Phillip Taulke-Johnson, 53, and James Taulke-Johnson, 27, of St Anselms Road, have been given a six week suspended sentence and charged with obtaining £15,000 from a couple who believed they were authorised advisers, reports the Worthing Herald.

The money, which was meant to be invested on a short term basis for the couple, was used by the father and son team for their own purposes.

After failing to recover their money, the offence - which occurred in 2010 - was reported to police last year with the two men subsequently arrested in October.

In addition to the six week suspended sentence, the men - who both pleaded guilty at Worthing Magistrates' Court to fraud offences - have been ordered to complete 100 hours unpaid work.

"This was a serious breach of trust which caused the victims considerable financial difficulty and all the stress that goes with it in an already difficult economic climate," said detective constable Sara Liau of West Sussex CID.

"Fortunately, they have now received their initial investment back following the police investigation".