BBC
November 23, 2013
A solicitor has been found guilty of fraud after he persuaded two severely disabled siblings to “sign” away the rights to their home.
Ranbir Dhaliwal got John and Clare Bartlett to make “marks” on legal papers denying them a claim to the home if their parents defaulted on a loan.
Dhaliwal, 45, of Carnoustie Drive, Bedford, told St Albans Crown Court he thought the pair could understand him.
But the jury found him guilty of three counts of fraud.
Giving evidence, Dhaliwal himself told a jury that what happened that day back in January 2008 had been a “judgement call” that he now bitterly regretted.
Dhaliwal had denied three offences of fraud
The jury found him guilty of one charge of fraud by abuse of position and two charges of fraud by false representation.
Judge John Plumstead told Dhaliwal he would grant him bail until 2 December when he must come back to court to be sentenced. The judge warned him to expect a custodial sentence.
The jury was told the documents on which John and Clare Bartlett made the marks gave away any rights they had to stay in the family home in Wyton in Huntingdon if their parents were to default on a £250,000 loan and the house was repossessed.