Fraudster pretended to be in COMA to avoid justice after fleecing pensioner
A FRAUDSTER who pretended to be in a coma for two years was caught by police going on shopping trips and holidays with his family.
Conman Alan Knight, 47, pretended he was in a vegetative state after he scammed his next door neighbour out of £40,000.
Knight tried to beat justice claiming he was a quadriplegic - and was even hooked up to oxygen and had no movement from the neck down.
But a court today heard how he was rumbled after CCTV captured him walking around the Tesco and driving his car to Dorset.
Knight was hauled up in court where he admitted scamming the pensioner who lived next door to him out of thousands of pounds.
Detective Con Harry Paul, who lead the case, said: "In my entire career this is the most calculated, long-term deception of a vulnerable, elderly neighbour I have ever seen.
He had constantly avoided court for two years, costing police, the NHS and the court system thousands of pounds
"He had constantly avoided court for two years, costing police, the NHS and the court system thousands of pounds".
Knight was living off of benefits at his home in Swansea, South Wales, after claiming he had suffered a massive neck injury.
The court heard that he claimed his injury had caused him to have seizures which left him in a comatose state.
His wife Helen, 33, claimed she had to care for her husband who had snapped his neck after falling backwards as he pulled down a garage door.
But the whole time he was carrying out an elaborate fraud targeting neighbour Ivor Richards' life savings and shares over a three year period.
The court heard how he "systematically" funnelled £41,570 out of the pensioner's bank account which he used to pay for holidays and to buy a caravan in Dorset.
The dad-of-three was caught on CCTV at the Severn bridge toll on the M4 as he travelled back from the south coast.
He was also captured on CCTV in Tesco stores across the country after police traced the use of the family's loyalty club card.
Officers tried to "at least twice" to bring him court but each time he admitted himself to hospital claiming his condition had worsened.
Swansea Crown Court was told he had "pulled the wool" over his GP's eyes but he was unable to fool doctors at the hospital.
While he was on "observations" they spotted him eating, wiping his face and even writing.
Knight was told he would stand trial with or without him present and finally appeared in court in a wheel chair and wearing a neck brace.
He admitted theft and forgery charges was told he is "likely" to be jailed in order to put other people off from trying his scam.
Judge Thomas added: "His appearance in court now is at variance with his appearance in CCTV footage.
"Aspects of this case in my experience are unique, and a strong message needs to be sent out to anyone who seeks to adopt similar tactics.
"Having seen the CCTV evidence from Tesco and driving the car, I have come to the conclusion he is putting it on.
"Attempts to make progress have been thwarted by Mr Knight pretending to be ill.
"Although a very accomplished and determined actor, he is nothing in like the condition he claims to be, and the conditions he claims to be suffering from are simply non existent.
"His illnesses coincide with impending court appearances. I do not believe the symptoms are genuine.
"He has been monitored, despite attempts to maintain the fiction. He was seen wiping his face and writing things down, which are inconsistent with being paraplegic or in a coma."
The court was told that it was believed the bank had reimbursed his victim and a date was set next month for sentencing, after a probation report had been prepared.
