A mum who helped defraud a family out of their home was coercively controlled by her former partner who was a police officer, a court has heard.
Emma Yankey, 44, appeared before Liverpool Crown Court this morning, Monday, July 3, in what was described as a "wholly exceptional case". Yankey, of Merseyside, had earlier pleaded guilty to three fraud charges which related to the defrauding of her former partner Brian Yankey's family out of a home they had owned for decades.
Graham Pickavance, prosecuting, told the court that in October 2012 Brian Yankey approached his siblings about mortgaging the family home to make appropriate improvements. Mr Pickavance said one of the siblings, named as Wilbur in court, sold the property to Yankey for £96,000. In April of the following year the property was transferred into her name.
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The court heard Yankey, under the name Emma Norman, took out a fraudulent loan application in July 2013 - and then fraudulently sold the property under the same name for £196,000 in July 2014.
Although the documents were in her name the court heard her role was '"subordinate" to Brian Yankey's. The fraud unravelled when Regis Group, who were involved in the sale, contacted the police regarding their concerns.
Mr Pickavance said Yankey had previously appeared before the courts in 2021 after admitting to a £46,000 scheme which saw her take money from families for deposits on Cyprus holidays which never happened. She walked free from court after being handed a two-year suspended sentence.
The prosecutor added the offences heard in court today actually happened long before her previous appearance. However, due to delays in obtaining all the documents for the fraudulent housing sale, the matters were never dealt with at the same time. Mr Pickavance told the court: "This was a complicated investigation with a phenomenal paper trail which was uncovered due to the diligence of one police officer."
The court heard that there were no victim impact statements, but the impact on the family was obvious due to the loss of inheritance.
In mitigation, David Prowse, defending, said it was a highly unusual case. He said Yankey had always accepted her role but she had acted subordinately to Brian Yankey who was named both by the defendant and the witnesses.
Mr Prowse told the court Yankey said she was subjected to physical, sexual and psychological abuse by her former partner. Mr Prowse said: "The impact on this woman was enormous due to being subjected to that level of abuse." Brian Yankey was a serving Metropolitan Police officer at this time, the court heard.
Mr Prowse added how Yankey had five children who all relied on her greatly due to their complex needs. He said there was strong personal mitigation as she played a "vital role" in her children's lives - and it would have a "catastrophic impact" on them if she was jailed.
Yankey's new partner was not able to look after all five of the children so they would have to be taken into care. Mr Prowse said: "She is the only person who can provide the care for the children all together."
Recorder Daniel Lister said: "The real harm caused by the fraud is the loss of the family home and the family inheritance from under their feet." He noted four siblings had lost their inheritance, while their mum Elfreda witnessed the loss of everything she had worked for. He added Elfreda had died with the fraud hanging over her head.
The judge accepted Brian Yankey's role in the fraud but noted it would be difficult to know how much equity had been lost by the family. He said it was at least £100,000.
Addressing Yankey, Recorder Lister said: "It's clear you were subjected to controlling, coercively and at times violent behaviour." He added: "It is clear Brian Yankey was the leading mind in this criminality."
The judge accepted Yankey's children relied on her for 24 hour care - and that due to the ongoing court case her own mental health had suffered.
Recorder Lister sentenced her to 20 months imprisonment suspended for 20 months. He also ordered her to complete 15 rehabilitation days and carry out 80 hours of unpaid work. Yankey will return to court under the Proceeds of Crime Act later this year.
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