Con artist admits £2m fraud spree

Marsh charmed shop assistants as part of her act

A woman who tricked some of Europe's top auction houses and boutiques out of £2m worth of paintings, jewellery and antiques is facing jail.

Shahra Marsh, 52, lived the high life for seven years at expensive flats in London's Docklands, Isle of Dogs, Bayswater and Mayfair.

Auctioneers Bonhams, Christie's and Sotheby's and boutiques in Paris were given cheques that later bounced.

Marsh pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court to fraud and concealing goods.

This woman amassed a vast quantity of stolen property through complex and protracted criminal methods Det Con Marek Coghill Lavish life of £2m fraudster

She admitted 20 offences committed between May 2005 and July 2007.

It can also now be reported that she pleaded guilty to 18 similar counts at previous court appearances.

Marsh will be sentenced on Thursday.

'Committed criminal'

The court was told Marsh used aliases including Shara Sylvia Marsh De Savigny - the name implied links to the French aristocracy - as part of her fraud between 2001 and 2008.

She would charm shop assistants and convince them that she was a genuine customer with money to spend.

Detectives said Marsh had acquired a detailed knowledge of the bank clearing system process and would pick up the goods sometimes hours before the cheques were revealed to be worthless.

Officers discovered the haul of stolen goods at a storage facility

Police recovered jewellery worth £770,000 in a safe deposit box as well more than £1m of stolen art, antiques and jewellery in a storage facility in east London.

The most expensive single item found by investigating officers was a £69,000 diamond ring.

Speaking outside court, Det Con Marek Coghill from City of London Police said: "I'd say the skills that she employed in doing this and the dedication she put into it, only come from a committed and calculated organised criminal."

He added: "This woman amassed a vast quantity of stolen property through complex and protracted criminal methods."