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Con artist admits £2m fraud spree Con artist admits £2m fraud spree
(19 minutes later)
A woman who tricked some of Europe's top auction houses and boutiques out of £2m worth of paintings, jewellery and antiques is facing jail.A woman who tricked some of Europe's top auction houses and boutiques out of £2m worth of paintings, jewellery and antiques is facing jail.
Shahra Marsh, 52, lived the high life for seven years at expensive flats in London's Docklands, Isle of Dogs, Bayswater and Mayfair.Shahra Marsh, 52, lived the high life for seven years at expensive flats in London's Docklands, Isle of Dogs, Bayswater and Mayfair.
Auctioneers Bonhams, Christie's and Sotheby's and boutiques in Paris were given cheques that later bounced.Auctioneers Bonhams, Christie's and Sotheby's and boutiques in Paris were given cheques that later bounced.
Marsh pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court to fraud and concealing goods.Marsh pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court to fraud and concealing goods.
This woman amassed a vast quantity of stolen property through complex and protracted criminal methods Det Con Marek Coghill
She admitted 20 offences committed between May 2005 and July 2007.She admitted 20 offences committed between May 2005 and July 2007.
It can also now be reported that she pleaded guilty to 18 similar counts at previous court appearances.It can also now be reported that she pleaded guilty to 18 similar counts at previous court appearances.
Marsh will be sentence on Thursday.Marsh will be sentence on Thursday.
'Organised criminal' 'Committed criminal'
Her crime spree lasted from 2001 to 2008. The court was told Marsh used aliases including Shara Sylvia Marsh De Savigny - the name implied links to the French aristocracy - as part of her fraud between 2001 and 2008.
The court was told she used aliases including Shara Sylvia Marsh De Savigny as part of her fraud. Officers discovered the haul of stolen goods at a storage facility
She would charm shop assistants and convince them that she was a genuine customer with money to spend.She would charm shop assistants and convince them that she was a genuine customer with money to spend.
The goods would be picked up in person or shipped from overseas to her rented addresses in London. Detectives said Marsh had acquired a detailed knowledge of the bank clearing system process and would pick up the goods sometimes hours before the cheques were revealed to be worthless.
Speaking outside court, Det Con Marek Coghill from the City of London Police said: "I'd say the skills that she employed in doing this and the dedication she put into it, only come from a committed and calculated organised criminal." Police recovered jewellery worth £770,000 in a safe deposit box as well more than £1m of stolen art, antiques and jewellery in a storage facility in east London.
The most expensive single item found by investigating officers was a £69,000 diamond ring.
Speaking outside court, Det Con Marek Coghill from City of London Police said: "I'd say the skills that she employed in doing this and the dedication she put into it, only come from a committed and calculated organised criminal."
He added: "This woman amassed a vast quantity of stolen property through complex and protracted criminal methods."