Ilford fraudster stages ‘ingenious’ escape plot after stealing £2 million

Wandsworth prisoner Neil Moore was on remand for defrauding £2 million when he staged an “ingenious” escape plot to walk free from jail.

Moore, 28, of Prince Road, Ilford, used an illicit mobile phone to create a false email address, posing as a senior court clerk. He sent bail instructions to prison staff, who released him on 10 March 2014, Southwark Crown Court heard.

It was only when solicitors went to interview him three days later that his deception was uncovered. Moore handed himself in shortly afterwards.

Moore was on remand for previously impersonating staff from Barclays, Lloyds and Santander banks and persuading large organisations to give him vast sums of money.

The skilled fraudster used his own - and impersonated a female voice - to answer calls from victims, pretending to transfer calls to fictional colleagues.

At the time, police initially charged his partner Kristen Moore with aiding him in the deception, however all charges against her have now been dropped.

Moore is thought to have committed £1,819,000 worth of fraud in total.

The judge, Recorder David Hunt QC, described the behaviour as “ingenious” criminality.

Moore, who has pleaded guilty to eight counts of fraud and one count of escape from lawful custody, will be sentenced on 20 April.