Two men have been sentenced for multiple counts of fraud against eleven victims across the country.

Raphael Temitope Adebanjo, 28, of Maran Way in Erith, and Roland Fyinfolu Ogundare, 31, of Chipperfield Road, Orpington appeared before Southampton Crown Court today (7 August) having pleaded guilty to a combined total of 24 counts of fraud.

Ogundare was jailed for 30 months, with an 18-month sentence for possession of an article used in fraud to run concurrently.

Adebanjo received a nine-month sentence, suspended for three years. He must also complete 150 hours of unpaid work.

Adebanjo and Ogundare came to the attention of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary following a report from a Winchester resident in May 2023.

The victim, a woman in her 70s, was contacted by someone pretending to be from her bank advising of a suspicious payment that needed blocking.  The caller convinced her to part with her PIN, before collecting her bank card from her address.

The defendants then went to West Quay and spoiled themselves to fraudulently purchased Apple products and a McDonald’s. They made a further attempt with her card in John Lewis, but this was unsuccessful.

The duo were identified by police following extensive CCTV enquiries after the initial report. Officers were able to track them through West Quay into the carpark, and through a McDonald’s drive-thru where they bought two chicken nugget meals.

Crucially, this footage identified the vehicle that was being driven and this identified Ogundare as the driver of the vehicle.  Enquiries identified Adebanjo as his accomplice and both were arrested in June 2023.

A search of their home addresses uncovered crucial evidence. A fake passport, driving license, bank cards and utility bills in victim’s names were found at Adebanjo’s home.

These showed that Adebanjo had arranged mobile phone contracts in the names of his unwitting victims.

Detectives were also able to show that Ogundare was in possession of the phone used to target the Hampshire victim and a further 7 victims across the country.

The court heard how Ogundare phoned multiple victims across the country purporting to be an employee from their bank in order to gain bank details and personal information.

Whilst police were present at his address, a company attempted to deliver £1722 worth of bathroom fittings, which were purchased fraudulently.

Both Ogundare and Adebanjo had lists of bank account details for multiple people, which included the victims they had offended against.

Adebanjo and Ogundare were arrested in June 2023. Adebanjo was charged with six counts of fraud by false representation, two counts of possession of an article for use in fraud and two counts of possessing a false identity without reasonable excuse.

Ogundare was charged with 13 counts of fraud by false representation, and one count of possession of an article for use in fraud.

Detective Constable Mike Dumbleton, of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary’s Economic Crime Investigation Team, said: “I am convinced this investigation uncovered only a fraction of Ogundare and Adebanjo’s overall offending.

“Fraud does not only cause financial loss to the victims.  It can cause emotional distress, depression and a lack of trust in society in general.

“Victims of identity theft may suffer a drop in their credit rating that affects their ability to obtain mortgages or loans and may spend weeks or months trying to clear their credit rating.

“This was a long investigation, but I am pleased the strength of the evidence gathered led to both suspects pleading guilty at first opportunity.”