A MAN has been arrested for fraud after a vicar returned home to find his house had been SOLD and someone else was living in it.
Reverend Mike Hall was working in north Wales when neighbours called him to explain they saw someone inside his £131,000 home in Luton, Bedfordshire.
He frantically drove back the following morning to investigate his mystery guests – but discovered the locks had been changed and a builder was cracking on with renovations inside.
The property had been gutted of his worldly possessions and "completely stripped" of all the furnishings – including the carpet and the curtains.
Mike complained to cops who confirmed a man has been arrested on suspicion of fraud by false representation, Hertfordshire Live reports.
Detective Inspector James Day said: "I can only imagine the anxiety and stress the victim has had to endure in this unusual and sophisticated case.
"My team of specialist officers is determined to get justice for him, as well as other victims of heartless fraudsters here in Bedfordshire.
"Our new team marks a step-change in how we respond to fraud cases in the county and we are determined to bring any offenders to justice."
Most read in The Sun
DID YOU KNOW? 
New Highway Code rule changes that could land YOU a huge £1k fine
New evidence about chief Maddie suspect leaves investigators 'shocked'
Adele cancelled Vegas residency after furious rant over pool stunt
I brought my uncle to collect his pension… I didn't know he was dead
Mike told the BBC: "I went to the front door, tried my key in the front door, it didn't work and a man opened the front door to me.
"I pushed him [the builder] to one side and got in the property. I really didn't know what he was doing there."
It is unclear how long the clergyman had been away from the property.
After Mike informed the workman he lived in the property, he called the police to explain his troublesome return to the terraced home.
The builder then left, but returned some time later with the new owner's father – who revealed he had purchased the house in July.
He told Mike: "It is now my property. You are now trespassing. Get out."
Mike explained he had attempted to access the Land Registry documentation online, where he saw the new owner's name was listed as of August 4 – meaning they legally own the house.
He said: "At that point the police said, ‘Well, there’s nothing further we can do here. This is a civil matter; you need to leave the house and contact your solicitors'."
Despite owning the home for 30 years, Mike was initially told by police after the incident in August it was a civil matter and that he had not been a victim of fraud.
"I was shocked – having seen the house in the state it was, I was in a bit of a state of shock anyway – but then to be told by the police they didn't believe a criminal offence had been committed here was just unbelievable," he said.
The solicitors involved in the bizarre property sale, who have not been named, said it was inappropriate to comment further amid the police investigation.
The firm said: "We will continue to co-operate with the police, and comply with our professional obligations."
We pay for your stories!
Do you have a story for The Sun news desk?
Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4104. You can WhatsApp us on 07423 720 250. We pay for videos too.
Click here to upload yours.
Click here to get The Sun newspaper delivered for FREE for the next six weeks.
Source: Read Full Article
