'Lord of Fraud’ jailed for £5m boiler room scam

Old people have to regularly resit their driving test to ensure that their physical and mental health has not deteriorated to the point where they are a danger to themselves and others. Perhaps this should be extended to a general mental fitness test? The worst thing about going gaga is that many people are unaware of the process, Terry Pratchett notwithstanding.

To ward off the accusations of being patronising, I took part in some clinical research a couple of weeks ago which tested me for just that!

Since a very high proportion of the under 65's should not be let out on their own, I have no objection to extending such tests right down the age range.

Tony Orth did me so I admit to being gullible,but not senile!

Another classic case in which crime does pay. £5m for 8 years before parole from prison,, nice one. but not for the poor souls who got swindled. No mention of seizing all the criminals assets,if none found then a minimum 15 years each in prison would fit the bill.

There is nothing, following conviction, to stop the police filing a POCA case. Legitimately acquired assets, provided that a debt can be proved, can be forfeited as substitutes for illicit proceeds. A criminal life style shouldn't be difficult to prove given the commentary above.

U.K. police has done a good job.

Crooks should feel unsafe and know that be in jail if they do not abide by the laws in the whole EU area.

The LIBOR manipulation scam shows that corruption is still alive and strict fighting meausres must be taken.

It is far from the only elderly that can be scammed. I was before the big bang, but only for a grand. At the time I was on top of the game, a Professional Eng & Manager travelling all over. But the tale was the oldest of all - greed is the most saleable commodity to those not prepared to step back and think.

I am now elderly and have a touch of dimentia. I often get phone calls from Indian/Pakistanies telling me that my computer has a serious fault that Norton /whatever security provider/ can not fix. They want to gain access to clear out bank a/c etc. I take great pleasure in keeping them talking as long as possible with tales such as my mam is not at home and my grand dad is the only one who can turn my computer on or I can not turn it on and talk to them because it is upstairs and the phone cable is not long enough. The longest that I have managed to date is 40 minutes: tommorrow I may break the record.

The moral is that we must all learn the lesson well known in Yorkshire: if thah givs out for nowt then giv it ta thesen. In other words do not expect anyone to give you anything for nothing. That we allow some elderly folk to get into a position where they forget such a simple maxim is a shame on all their relatives and old 'friends'.

Thoughtfull

You are still a lot more compos mentis than most contributors here:-)

Unfortunately as we get older our relatives and friends die, move to the other end of the country or just go gaga before us.

Jeremy Bosk, you mean you passed the test?

Jeremy Bosk, you mean you passed the test?