A mum was coercively controlled by her ex-partner to help defraud HIS family out of their home and inheritance, a court has heard.
Emma Yankey defrauded her ex-partner's family out of a home they had owned for decades in what was described as a "wholly exceptional case". The 44-year-old appeared before Liverpool Crown Court on Monday (July 3), having pleaded guilty to three fraud charges after defrauding her ex Brian Yankey's family.
Prosecuting, Graham Pickavance, told the court that in 2012 Brian Yankey, a police officer, 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 to do so.
But, after the property was transferred into her name in April 2013, Yankey, under the name Emma Norman, then took out a fraudulent loan in July and fraudulently sold the property under that name for £196,000 in July 2014, the ECHO reports.
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Despite the documents being under her name, she was a "subordinate" of Brian Yankey, the court heard, with the defrauding coming to light when Regis Group, who were involved in the sale, contacted the police.
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.
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.
David Prowse, defending, said it was a highly unusual case and that Yankey had always accepted her role. However, she said she had acted as a subordinate to Brian Yankey.
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.
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The court heard that she has five children who would have to be placed into care if she was jailed. 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."
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 Yankey, from Merseyside, 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.
