Man jailed for homes con

Sentencing, Recorder Philip Bartle QC said: "The fraud in which you played a part was undoubtedly carefully planned and orchestrated."

Rice assumed the identity of Stewart Knight and rented the home from 83-year-old former Olympic yachtsman Vernon Stratton.

He and the gang moved in, changed the locks, and targeted developers Pall Mall, which purchased the four-bedroom house.

But a member of bank staff caught Rice in March when he tried to transfer £850,000 of the sale proceeds to an account in Dubai, using a fake driving licence.

The court heard that Rice, managing director of a yacht refurbishing firm in Majorca, was to get £10,000 from the scam.

Gavin Ludlow-Thompson, prosecuting, said: "This case involves the plundering of innocent persons' identities on a grand scale.

"The aim was to get control of high value properties in the Kensington and Chelsea area, and then pose as the vendor of the property to sell it or raise funds by way of a mortgage."

Jacqueline Vallejo, defending, said Rice was the 'fall guy' who agreed to take part in the scam as the recession had hit his business.

He was jailed for 18 months for possession of a fake driving licence, 18 months for possession of a fake passport and three years for acquiring criminal property, to be served concurrently.