Fraudster who 'caused years of delay' jailed

James Raynham-Gallivan was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court

A fraudster who failed to pay £116,000 from two estates where he was acting as the executor has been jailed.

Nottinghamshire Police said James Raynham-Gallivan, 71, of Bescar Lane, Scarisbrick in Lancashire, was reported in March 2018 when he lived in Newark.

It was found he had received money over two years but "made a series of excuses as to why the money could not be paid to the named beneficiary", added the force.

He eventually pleaded guilty to two charges of fraud by abuse of position and was sentenced to two years and three months in prison at Nottingham Crown Court on 30 July.

Police said Raynham-Gallivan was charged with fraud in June 2020, but "repeatedly offered evidence that he was too ill both physically and mentally to enter a plea or to stand trial".

After it emerged he had repeatedly travelled between the UK and the Republic of Ireland and other foreign countries, he was returned to court on 13 February, where he admitted the two frauds.

He was also found guilty of perverting the course of justice and received one day in prison to run concurrently.

Det Con Sonya Thompson-Kirby said: "At the heart of this case is a grieving victim who was taken advantage of in the most appalling way.

"Raynham-Gallivan took advantage of her grief and the trust she placed in him to defraud her of a very large amount of money.

"He then caused years of unnecessary delay to the justice system."