Judge slams police over eight-year conman probe which took so long one victim pulled out and accomplice died

Published: 11:20, 27 July 2026 | Updated: 11:23, 27 July 2026 A judge has criticised police over an eight-year investigation into a callous conman which took so long one victim stopped cooperating and the crook’s accomplice died. Adam Francis, 48, was reported to detectives in 2018 after posing as a mortgage broker to dupe prospective house buyers in a ‘despicable and shameful’ £200,000 fraud. But he was not interviewed by officers until July 2021 and not charged until December 2024. Following his first court appearance, victims then waited a further 19 months whilst Francis, from Barnton, Northwich, Cheshire, faced a series of court hearings. He eventually pleaded guilty after being told he was likely to receive a suspended prison sentence. During the marathon inquiry, one complainant who lost £14,460 gave up cooperating, telling detectives: ‘I just want to move on with my life.’ The victim then faced the possibility of being forced to testify under the threat of a court summons. Meanwhile Francis' partner-in-crime, Robert Kelly, who posed as his accountant, passed away in 2021 from natural causes. Adam Francis, 48, received a suspended prison sentence after admitting fraud Finally sentencing Francis at Chester Crown Court on Friday, Judge Steven Everett condemned the length of the inquiry. The judge said Cheshire Police ‘delayed this case for an unconscionable length of time’ and ‘did not do as it should’. He added: ‘The police must appreciate, what does the court do with somebody eight years after the offences were committed? ‘The victims won’t get the years back of worry and stress they undoubtedly felt as they waited to see what would happen.’ Judge Everett also criticised the decision of prosecutors to ‘try and seek a witness summons to drag (a complainant) to court eight years after he made his complaint’ – saying it was ‘not the best decision’. Francis was sentenced to 25 months’ imprisonment suspended for two years after he admitted defrauding four victims out of £200,000. The fraud took place between February 2017 and August 2018 after Francis, who had a history of dishonesty, set himself up as the 'Mortgage Man'. Clients said Francis and Kelly conned them into handing over thousands of pounds on the pretext of paying legal fees and deposits. Victims handed over £200,000 to Francis and an accomplice supposedly for fees and deposits Francis never made any applications for finance and, together with Kelly, pocketed the cash, the court was told. One victim, who wanted to remortgage her home and equestrian facility, was advised by Francis to take out a new mortgage for £830,000 - and promised help in buying properties in Tenerife and mainland Spain. But she lost £114,000 after borrowing money from her son and then her late mother who ended up selling her own home to cover the loss. Separately, a man nearly went bankrupt after his business lost £40,000 to Francis’s fraud whilst a third victim temporarily split up with his wife due to the stress of losing £41,000. Denise Fitzpatrick, prosecuting, said: ‘When portraying himself as a mortgage broker and advisor, Adam Francis made false representations which were and which he knew were untrue or misleading. ‘Each complainant believed money they had transferred was for a mortgage for which a deposit was required. ‘Francis had no formal qualifications or accreditation.’ Ms Fitzpatrick added: ‘Kelly portrayed himself as the accountant at the meetings. He died of natural causes in December 2021.’ Victim Susan Sutcliffe told how she initially paid £5,000 to Kelly before turning to her son for help when she was told to pay a deposit of £87,000. The son transferred £80,000 in four instalments before Mrs Sutcliffe’s mother handed over around £34,000. Mrs Sutcliffe said she felt the scam was her fault and expressed guilt for bringing her son and mother into it. She said: ‘I'm utterly heartbroken and embarrassed that Adam Francis and Robert Kelly deceived me. It has left me feeling anxious, fearful and distrustful.’ Craig Prince, who lost £10,500 and ended up having to borrow from friends and family to cover the losses, said: ‘The stress placed on my wife and I was unbearable.' Francis had previous convictions for making a false representation and acquiring criminal property, the court was told. He will face a Proceeds of Crime hearing but prosecutors admitted it was ‘not clear’ if he has any money to pay back to the victims. Hayley Bennett, defending, said Francis was in poor health, having suffered a heart attack in 2025, adding: ‘He does hold genuine real remorse’. Cheshire Police and the Crown Prosecution Service have been contacted for comment.