Fraudster claimed he had terminal cancer as part of £1.8million scam

A banker who faked having terminal cancer as part of a series of scams worth a combined £1.8 million has been jailed for almost seven years.

Rajesh Ghedia, 42, faked having pancreatic cancer and produced false medical letters from a consultant to claim insurance money between October 2020 and May last year.

He claimed he would be dead within a year in order to claim £1.2million, Southwark Crown Court was told.

In another series of scams, Ghedia made fraudulent claims about his position at the company to encourage people, including one relative, to invest in non-existent financial products with the bank and Goldman Sachs from 2016 to 2020.

Judge Deborah Taylor, jailed him for six years and nine months over 30 combined counts of fraud.

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She dubbed Ghedia a “persistent fraudster and liar” who left his victims "scarred".

She said: “This was a contrived, extensive and complex fraud using the names and reputation of doctors without them knowing.

“A complete disregard to their names and reputations.”

In relation to the investment fraud, she said: “You have caused them (victims) devastation, showing utter disregard for their mental wellbeing and finances.

“All have been left scarred.”

Ghedia produced fake medical documentation and letters from Dr Nick Maisey, a consultant oncologist at the London Clinic, a private hospital in central London.

In his other scam, Ghedia caused victims to lose a total of £600,000 after being told they could double or triple their money over a short period of time.

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Jack Talbot, prosecuting, told the court that among the victims was a relative whom Ghedia had urged to invest in a non-existent Goldman Sachs portfolio.

More than £63,000 was instead paid into three bank accounts belonging to the defendant.

Other victims included his former taxi driver and his wife, who lost a total of just over £104,000.

On some occasions, Ghedia made “dreadful assertions”, falsely saying his daughter was killed in a car accident, to avoid communicating with the victims.

Another victim, a grandfather, told in a statement of his “embarrassment” after being swindled by Ghedia.

Mr Talbot said Ghedia was highly culpable due to the “continual period of offending” over five years.

He also told the court the ex-banker has “high value” property and vehicles, privately educates his children and lives a “lavish lifestyle”.

Benjamin Waidhofer, defending, argued the offences did not take place over a significant period of time, as well as telling of Ghedia’s good character.

Mr Waidhofer went on: “The defendant has come to terms with the possibility of a custodial sentence and entirely accepts responsibility.”

Speaking about compensation, he added: “In all likelihood the victims will be made substantially, if not completely, whole.”

Ghedia, of Maidenhead, in Berkshire, had entered an early guilty plea, the court heard.