Sentenced for financial fraud and burglary

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Two members of a gang who carried out almost 50 sneak-in burglaries before scamming their victims have been jailed at Lincoln Crown Court.

Darren Wykes, 46, of Kempley Avenue and 58-year-old George Quinn of Ansty Road, both from Coventry, operated across 13 counties, including Lincolnshire, Leicester, Bristol, and Southampton.

Sentenced for financial fraud

Both men would target vulnerable locations such as GPs and other surgeries, care homes or schools, to steal wallets and purses.

Following each robbery, they would call their victims, posing as bank workers or police officers, to steal sensitive financial information.

Timeline of offences

The offences began in March 2023 at a GP surgery in Lincoln and quickly escalated as the gang moved on to similar premises in Market Rasen, Louth, and Boston.

Wykes and Quinn were assisted by David Ovington, 59, and Daniel Sutherland, 41, who provided transport for the gang. With their final offence taking place in Derbyshire in May 2024.

Victim speaks out

Care worker Sarah Croney, 39, courageously shared her devastating experience after falling victim to Darren Wykes and George Quinn, defrauding her out of thousands of pounds.

When working at a care home in Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, in 2023, they broke into the premises and stole her purse.

Shortly after, an accomplice called her, impersonating a bank official, claiming they could help stop any fraudulent activity on her debit card. Unfortunately, in a moment of panic, Sarah provided enough personal information for the criminals to drain her account.

At the time, she was busy arranging medication for residents when she received the call. “They told me someone had tried to use my bank card in Skegness,” she recounted.

In a rush to check her purse, which was already stolen, she made the fateful decision to share her details to supposedly protect her finances.

After realising her mistake, she contacted her bank, but the criminals had already taken her money, leaving Sarah feeling “mortified and heartbroken.”

Sentencing and legal consequences

The two men behind this fraudulent scheme, were sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary and fraud.

Darren Wykes was sentenced to five years and four months in prison, while George Quinn received a five-year sentence.

Ovington and Sutherland were given 21-month suspended sentences after they also pleaded to conspiring to conduct fraud and burglary.

Representative of the victims

Adam Petty, Detective Sergeant from Lincolnshire Police described the criminals as “unscrupulous fraudsters” who used “every trick in the book to deceive and manipulate” their victims. He emphasized the importance of vigilance in protecting personal financial information.

Frequently asked questions

How to protect yourself from financial fraud?

Although fraud and cybercrime comes in many forms, there are some simple steps you can take to protect yourself:

Protect your personal information, avoid sharing it with organisations or people without verifying their credentials.
Install up-to-date anti-virus software and security on your computer.
Avoid phishing emails and call your bank directly if unsure.
Shred receipts with card details and post with your name and address.
Be wary of unsolicited business deals and take action if you receive bills or invoices for purchases you haven’t made.

How do I know if I am a victim of a scam?

It can be difficult to know if you have been a victim of a fraud or scam as they can seem very genuine. However, it might be a scam if:

It seems far too good to be true – For example something is much cheaper than you would expect.
Someone you do not know contacts you unexpectedly.
You are pressured into making a decision.
You have a suspicion that the company you are dealing with is not real – for example they do not have clear or available contact details.
You are asked to provide private personal information.

Can I get my money back from a fraud or scam?

Options available to recover your money:

Recovery of the money can be sought from the financial institution that should have prevented the fraud.
Other regulated firms involved who also could have detected the fraud and issued a warning.
You can attempt to recover the funds yourself without legal representative, however there are benefits to having instructed a solicitor to do this for you.
By using a solicitor who is a specialist in financial mis-selling claims. We aim to take the hassle out of the claims process as we do all the hard work for you.

Can I make a claim if I have already complained to the bank?

Yes. If you have complained to the bank and they rejected your claim, then there are still legal options available to you.

Some of these legal options have strict time limits, and therefore it is essential that you obtain legal advice as soon as possible.

What are your fees if my claim is successful?

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) regulates the fees that a Solicitor can charge for this area of work. The fee is expressed as a maximum percentage charge that a Solicitor can deduct from their clients’ damages.

The maximum percentage charge is on a sliding scale dependent upon the number of damages received by the Client, subject to an overall maximum monetary charge as illustrated below:

Band	Damages awarded for a claim	Maximum percentage charge	Maximum monetary charge
1	£1 – £1,499	30%	£420
2	£1,500 – £9,999	28%	£2,500
3	£10,000 – £24,999	25%	£5,000
4	£25,000 – £49,999	20%	£7,500
5	£50,000 or above	15%	£10,000

The maximum percentage rate and the maximum total charge is exclusive of VAT. VAT is charged at 20% and is claimed in addition.

If your claim is successful, then our fees for this claim are limited to the lower of:

a) The maximum percentage rate of charge with reference to the damages awarded for the claim, or.

b) the maximum total charge in the table applicable to the redress awarded for your claim.

Why choose Oakwood Solicitors Ltd?

Oakwood Solicitors have a dedicated department of specialised lawyers who have knowledge and experience of bank fraud and scams. As the scams become increasingly more sophisticated, and the fraudsters become harder to detect, it is important to have the right people on your side to ensure that you have the best chance of recovering your money.

Oakwood Solicitors are experts. They understand the legal and regulatory frameworks surrounding bank fraud and scams.

Gang members sentenced for financial fraud and burglary in multi-county crime