AN Oldham man has been jailed for his part in a fraud operation which targeted businesses across the country during two months in 2016.

Headley Brown became involved in the massive scams brought about by Robert Salinger where the two would pose as people seeking to buy equipment on credit before making off with it before suppliers became suspicious.

Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard the scam involved frauds of £340,000 against suppliers of tyres and other items such as e-cigarettes.

Salinger, 37, of Woodford Road in Failsworth, was previously jailed for four years for his involvement in all of these frauds.

Brown, 56, of Wilson Way in Oldham, previously confessed to four counts of conspiracy to commit fraud and appeared in court yesterday to be sentenced.

Prosecutor Kevin Slack revealed the extent of his involvement in September and October that year.

He said Salinger had targeted Ashtead Plant Hire saying he needed a digger and a saw, and the items were taken to a spot in Failsworth but by chance were picked up by police on the M62.

He said Brown had been in Spain at the time but had messaged Salinger saying he had keys to the facility where the items would be delivered.

Salinger, he said, later targeted Kumho Tyres and 202 tyres were taken to Bury where Brown was seen moving them.

Brown he said also helped Salinger target Auchenlea Tyres Ltd in Scotland and take £62,000 of items from them.

He also helped an unsuccessful fraud against Gallahers when Salinger claimed he was the chief executive of the Marriot Hotel Group and needed £49,000-worth of e-cigarettes.

Representing the 56-year-old, defence counsel Benjamin Knight said his client had been naïve and the operation had gone further than he expected.

He said: “He was glad when this came to an end. He found it quite stressful.”

He said his client’s actions were easily traceable and this suggested a degree of “naivety” but also said he was “weak minded”.

Judge John Potter said: “On each of the four counts you conspired with a man, Robert Salinger, who I have personally sentenced in these proceedings. The frauds obtained by you had a value of just over £188,000.

“It is clear your actions had a significant effect on some of the companies targeted, in particular some of the employees, some had their careers in the companies terminated, some felt their careers had suffered.”

He jailed Brown for two years and eight months.

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