Conman who sold Preston pensioners' home behind their back faces financial hearing

Syed Arfat Bukhari, 39, is serving seven years and 11 months in jail after admitting fleecing £350,000 from an ex-Merchant Navy man and his wife in their 80s.

Due to the progression of the Fulwood couple’s illness, investigators aren’t sure how he came into their lives. It is believed he started doing ‘errands’ for them, but due to the man’s memory problems he could not remember Bukhari’s previous visits.

His confused wife was convinced he was from the bank fraud department.

Bukhari funded business class trips to Dubai and hair transplant operations as he emptied the couple’s accounts, took out loans in their name and had mail and calls redirected.

He even duped the couple’s family, who believed genuine bank staff were trying to sort out what was purported to be a “financial mess” caused by the confused pensioner taking out loans and not repaying them.

Their distraught son previously spoke of the impact on the family.It is understood the couple still live at the Preston property, though it is now legally not theirs.

Bukhari, of Deepdale Avenue, Withington, Manchester, will appear before Judge Simon Newell at Preston.

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