Pair jailed for fake diamond scam

Two men who targeted people's life-savings in a fake gemstone scam in London have been jailed.

Benny Adams, 23, and Honest Sibanda, 39, of Huddersfield, were caught in 2008 when police found fake gems in their car, Southwark Crown Court heard.

Adams was convicted of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and jailed for four years.

Sibanda admitted fraud by false representation and was jailed for three years.

Adams was also convicted of possessing articles for use in the fraud while Sibanda admitted the same charge.

The court heard that builder David Sebuyira was invited to a series of meetings at London hotels in November 2007.

Life savings

Justin Cole, prosecuting, said Adams, of Yew Tree Road, had valued some bogus diamonds which had been produced by another man.

The men pretended they needed to sell the stones but said it would take them 48 hours to get their money out of Africa to pay the owner.

Mr Sebuyira withdrew his life savings and was promised a £50,000 cut of the profits at a further meeting. But no-one was there when he turned up.

The court was told Sibanda, of De La Pole Avenue, had targeted a taxi driver in London by offering him fake diamonds.

But the driver became suspicious and flagged down a passing police car.

Jeweller's monocle

Sibanda was later arrested, but no further action was taken.

Adams and Sibanda were caught in November 2008, when police stopped the car they were in and found fake gems, digital scales and a jeweller's monocle.

Judge Peter Testar said the men's crimes were an example of prevalent offending in London where 40 very similar crimes were currently being investigated.

He told them: "Today's matter was a sophisticated fraud and apart from being prevalent, was also quite ruthless and heartless because those you approached and manipulated could ill afford to lose their money."