" EX CARDIFF CITY/WALES STAR JALIED "

Ex-Wales footballer and former Cardiff City player jailed after scamming £5m from schools and colleges


BBC

Monday 26th February 2018

Former Wales international Mark Aizlewood, 58, and Paul Sugrue, 56 have been jailed at Southwark Crown Court.

The two ex-professional footballers were sentenced for scamming £5m from schools and colleges through a bogus sports leadership scheme.

Aizlewood, who also played for Cardiff City, was sentenced to six years and Sugrue was sentenced to seven years in prison.

Judge David Tomlinson said: "There was a serious detrimental affect on colleges of further education."

He said it involved "eye watering sums of Government money" under the pretext of helping disadvantaged people, adding: "This was quite simply shameful exploitation."

Aizlewood, whose clubs also included Leeds United and Charlton Athletic, and Sugrue – whose played for Manchester City, Middlesbrough and Cardiff City – promised to help struggling youngsters gain an NVQ in activity leadership.

They told colleges across the country they would provide full-time training in football coaching as well as work experience and a £95 weekly stipend to 3,800 students.


But in reality hundreds of the students on their books didn’t even exist, many lived at the opposite end of the country from the training scheme, while others were doing just two to three hours of study a week.

Earlier this month Aizlewood was convicted of one count and Sugrue of two counts of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation by offering the non-existent apprenticeships through their firm Luis Michael Training Ltd at Southwark Crown Court in London.

Aizlewood was also acquitted of a second court of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation.

The pair – along with fellow directors Keith Williams, 45, and Christopher Martin, 53 – submitted false accounts to colleges to persuade them to do business with the firm.

They promised the colleges it was the perfect opportunity for “neets” – youngsters not in employment, education or training – to gain a qualification.

Williams was also convicted of two counts of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation.



Football coach Jack Harper, 30, was convicted of fraud and using a false instrument. He was acquitted of another count of conspiracy to commit false representation.

Martin admitted two counts of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation ahead of trial along with Stephen Gooding, 53, who admitted one charge.

The jury of five women and seven men reached verdicts after more than 24 hours of deliberation.

Aizlewood denied any wrongdoing, telling the jury he had been preoccupied by his late wife’s spiralling mental health problems before her suicide in June last year.

He told the court he had neither the “time or inclination” to carry out such a complex fraud during the period.

The former player, who was capped 39 times for his country and made more than 500 appearances in the football league, described how his wife, Penelope, was suffering from alcohol and drug problems as well as depression.

Aizlewood said: “I’m a director of a company but, and it’s a big but, my main thought pattern was what I have to do – I have to get done quickly and get back because of the situation there.”

He continued: “It just made Luis Michael, in many ways, of no significance. I had bigger battles to fight and therefore, yes I had to do my job and do my duties, but I’m not so focused on it.”

His barrister, Nigel Lambert QC, said to Aizlewood: “The allegation is you were involved in a criminal conspiracy during this time and I just want to ask, what really was your mental attitude of that time, what really you were focusing on?”

He replied: “On my family. A, I didn’t have the inclination and B, I didn’t have the time.”

At the height of his career in the late 1980s, Aizlewood commanded a transfer fee of £250,000 – the record was £1m at the time – and Arsenal and England legend Ian Wright has said Aizlewood’s name was the first in his autograph book.

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£5 million fraud and Aizlewood says I didn't know anything about it???

Not the most convincing defence!!!

Bloke was a crook and got what he deserved.

Enjoy the porridge aize

“The love of money is the root of all evil “

I recall Paul Sugrue and Mark (now known as 'Fletch') Aizelwood being decent players and doing a good job in a City shirt but Aizelwood became quite bitter after he left the club. Can't remember why but may have had something to do with money or promises he felt were made?

That's a substantial amount of money and if they had lists of names that were simply there to make up the numbers, it is likely most (if not all) of those people had no idea they were on said lists, which adds up to deceit, so only one logical outcome and "Guilty M'Lud!" was it!

Sentencing is a matter for the Courts but there appears to be a high level of deceit and dishonesty involved!

Terrible, but only highlighted because he was an ex city player... Many Charity’s do this on a regular basis, it’s about time the commissioner sorted it out!!

Terrible, but only highlighted because he was an ex city player... Many Charity’s do this on a regular basis, it’s about time the commissioner sorted it out!!

I'm with you on that. I've seen what some companies (not just charities) will do to assure themselves of certain funding streams and it appears easier to do if it's considered 'public' money!

There people out there with qualifications (on paper) they have no idea about and there are several reasons that can occur

With these two characters, we are seeing just one example of how it's done and you're so right that appropriate authorities/commissioners need to sort it out because at the moment a lot of it goes unchecked

Terrible, but only highlighted because he was an ex city player... Many Charity’s do this on a regular basis, it’s about time the commissioner sorted it out!!

I'm with you on that. I've seen what some companies (not just charities) will do to assure themselves of certain funding streams and it appears easier to do if it's considered 'public' money!

There people out there with qualifications (on paper) they have no idea about and there are several reasons that can occur

With these two characters, we are seeing just one example of how it's done and you're so right that appropriate authorities/commissioners need to sort it out because at the moment a lot of it goes unchecked

It’s all a big scam!! Terrible

Has all the money disappeared and if so will the fraudsters pay it back