A former senior HBOS manager and five associates have been sentenced to a total of nearly 50 years in prison for an 'utterly corrupt scheme' that defrauded small businesses and the bank of around £245m. Lynden Scourfield, 54, was jailed for 11 years and three months after pleading guilty to his role in the extensive fraud, which left hundreds of victims 'cheated, defeated and penniless'.
Judge Beddoe described Scourfield as an 'utterly corrupt bank manager' driven by 'rapacious greed', who had 'got his tentacles into the businesses of ordinary and honest people and ripped them apart'. The court heard that Scourfield was rewarded with sex parties, luxury holidays, and other lavish perks arranged by consultant David Mills, who was sentenced to 15 years.
Mills, described by the judge as 'the devil to whom you sold your soul', organised orgies and trips for Scourfield in exchange for introductions to HBOS clients. The proceeds of the fraud, which ran between 2003 and 2007, funded superyachts, expensive meals, and jewellery. A sex worker told the court that Scourfield resembled actor Danny DeVito.
Other sentences included Michael Bancroft, 73, jailed for 10 years; Mark Dobson, 56, for four-and-a-half years; John Cartwright, 72, for three-and-a-half years; and Alison Mills, 51, for three-and-a-half years. The Mills owned a £2m superyacht called Powder Monkey, funded by the fraud.
Victims lost their businesses, homes, and livelihoods. Paul and Nikki Turner, whose publishing company Zenith was ruined, said they were ignored for years when trying to report the fraud. 'They defrauded us, denied for 10 years that the fraud had happened, ignored the debt and tried to evict us 22 times,' Mrs Turner said.
The courtroom erupted in applause as the sentences were passed. Judge Beddoe noted that Scourfield showed no remorse, adding that victims 'could have expected to be comfortable in retirement were left cheated, defeated and penniless'.
