Five men have been jailed for conning an elderly man out of more than £200,000 – and then trying to convince police the pensioner had spent the money on an aeroplane.

The elaborate scam involved Harold James Rimmer, 66, of Greenwood Close in Morden, who together with four other men convinced the 83-year-old man to pay £223,459 to the now defunct Chetty and Co solicitors, of which he was a partner.

The money was then paid to Majestic Aviation SA Ltd where John Francis Keogh, 70 of Watersplash Road in Shepperton, was a director.

The money was then divided between the five men after complex series of transactions in an effort to cover their tracks.

When police arrested the five men they produced false documentation in an attempt to convince police that the pensioner, who had since passed away, had bought an aircraft with the money from the United States.

After an investigation by the Met’s Criminal Finances Team all five men were charged and later sentenced at Kingston Crown Court on Friday, April 26, following a three week trial.

Harold James Rimmer, 66, was sentenced to five years in prison found guilty of acquiring criminal property, transferring criminal property and perverting the course of justice.

John Francis Keogh, 70, was sentenced to five years in prison found guilty of acquiring criminal property and perverting the course of justice.

Kevin Quintyn, 46, a builder of Calbourne Road, was sentenced to five years in prison found guilty of acquiring criminal property and perverting the course of justice.

Samuel Kofi Sey, 52, a probation officer of Evans Road, SE6, was sentenced to two years in jail and 240 hours community service found guilty of transferring criminal property and acquiring criminal property.

Wynette Cameron, 45, of Evans Road, SE6, was sentenced to two years in prison and 200 hours community service found guilty of acquiring criminal property and two counts of transferring criminal property.

Detective Constable Idonesit Essien of the MPS Criminal Finances Team, said: "Money laundering is a serious crime.

"These so-called professional people committed these offences with the sole motivation of their own financial benefit, having no care for the impact on the victim.

"We are now seeking a confiscation order."