Man jailed for defrauding his former partner

Oliver Cooper admitted fraud at Swindon Crown Court last year

A man has been jailed for multiple fraud offences including defrauding his former partner out of tens of thousands of pounds.

Oliver Cooper forged signatures to change the equity of the property of the property he owned with his ex partner after they separated.

Although he was arrested shortly afterwards, police said he tried to "manipulate" his victim through delays in criminal and civil court processes for two years.

Acting Det Sgt Martyn Powell from Wiltshire Police said "financial abuse is a form of domestic violence".

In May 2022 Cooper, previously of Assart Way in Chippenham, Wiltshire, forged signatures to change the equity of the property he owned with his ex-partner, resulting in a loss of tens of thousands of pounds to the victim.

He eventually pleaded guilty to altering the documents in May 2023 and was jailed for two years and nine months at Swindon Crown Court on Friday.

Det Sgt Martyn Powell said actions like Cooper's leave victims "unable to move on, to escape the abuse or at risk of other types of control".

He added that he hoped the sentencing encourages victims to come forward and seek support.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) also investigated Cooper for fraudulent VAT claims, which were submitted on behalf of his cleaning company between July 2019 and March 2022.

Cooper admitted a £200,000 VAT fraud and a money laundering offence at Swindon Crown Court on 31 May 2024.

He also admitted forgery offences, including failed attempts to gain access to his bank accounts that had been frozen by HMRC.

He was also sentenced to two years and nine months’ imprisonment for those offences, giving a total sentence of five-and-a-half years.