Peter Holbrook: Jail for bogus financial adviser

Peter Holbrook, 75, admitted seven counts of fraud

A bogus financial adviser who duped seven vulnerable victims out of a total of nearly £900,000 has been jailed for five years and three months.

Peter Holbrook, 75, targeted elderly or recently bereaved people, offering to write wills or handle probate matters despite no formal qualifications.

Holbrook, who admitted seven counts of fraud, used the cash to fund a gambling addiction, Bradford Crown Court heard.

Judge Richard Thyne KC told Holbrook his actions had caused "deep harm".

The court heard Holbrook, from Oxenhope, West Yorkshire, obtained £849,839.30 from a total of seven victims between January 2011 and March 2021.

One victim alone lost almost £390,000.

Holbrook used the money to fund his gambling as well as a holiday to the Netherlands and Belgium, and to make some repayments to several of his victims when they raised concerns.

Judge Thyne said Holbrook had claimed in one police interview to be "a rich, professional gambler who enjoyed helping people".

Holbrook was sentenced at Bradford Crown Court

Holbrook had "taken away people's financial security at a time when they were vulnerable and most needed it", he added.

"You took away hard-earned money that parents had saved to give to their children upon their death; plans for retirement were overturned; and homes were sold to pay for the cost of care that should have come from people's savings," Judge Thyne said.

The court heard that some of Holbrook's victims were left blaming themselves for losing money and that "misunderstandings" were caused between family members.

Holbrook, who has no previous convictions, had said he was "disgusted" with his actions, Bradford Crown Court was told when he was sentenced on Monday.

Speaking outside court, Gregory Dobson said his mother Joan was conned out of almost £380,000.

He said the family realised about a year ago, but Mrs Dobson died in January this year.

"She was told that her money would be invested for her kids in the future and obviously that never happened," he said.

Gregory Dobson's mother Joan lost £380,000 to Holbrook

"It just opened up a nightmare for us really. The money was passed down from my father, from his hard work as a teacher of a lot of years, and it was her savings as well.

"We haven't seen any of that back."

Mr Dobson added: "Just be very careful with who you trust with investing your money.

"I was happy that he has got a custodial sentence and not able to walk away, so that was a good result for us today."

Linda Davis, from West Yorkshire Trading Standards - who brought the prosecution against Holbrook - said: "This was substantial fraud, with many victims losing their life savings to someone they trusted with their money.

"Holbrook built relationships with them to enable him to persuade them to let him manage their financial affairs, whilst all the time using their money to fund his gambling habit.

"The sentence today reflects the severity of his offending and the impact on victims."