Fraudster jailed after unlawfully selling property

Anthony Beecroft pleaded guilty to fraud and perjury

A fraudster who unlawfully sold property and land in Madeira and concealed it from his wife during divorce proceedings has been jailed for four and a half years.

Anthony Beecroft sold the property, which was held under a holding company that he and his then wife Kate Costain were directors of, without the former MHK's knowledge.

Douglas Courthouse heard Beecroft had proceeded with the sale in February 2021, after divorce proceedings had begun, despite not having the authority to do so and the company having been struck off in 2019.

The 82-year-old had then lied about it in a subsequent affidavit and civil court proceedings.

The court heard that the couple had married in 2005 and founded the company four years later to hold land and a rural property in Madeira.

But things had "started to fall apart" in 2019 when they separated, the court was told.

One month after his estranged wife's lawyers sent a letter about finances during the divorce, Beecroft sold the land for €275,000 (£237,000) and the property for a further €15,000 (£12,900).

The court was told Beecroft did not tell his then wife about the sale and "spent a significant amount of the proceeds".

In an affidavit 10 months later in December 2021, he said he still had €300,000 (£259,000) worth of land and property in Madeira, despite having already sold them, the court heard.

In January the following year, he made a payment to his wife's advocates of £42,625, which represented the remainder of the proceeds of the sale that he had not spent.

However, under oath in March 2023 during divorce proceedings, he told a deemster that his affidavit from 2021 was correct. He later admitted he had lied.

Beecroft pleaded guilty to fraud and two counts of perjury.

In a victim impact statement, his ex-wife told the court "realising the man I married could lie, deceive and commit such criminal acts" had affected her confidence and health.

Jailing him, Deemster Graeme Cook said the case had an "appalling history".

He said Beecroft "had tried to cover his tracks" by suggesting there was a power of attorney signed by his then wife, but the document "did not provide whoever it was given to with the authority to sell the land".

"You have nothing but my distain for your behaviour," he added.