Students in death insurance scam

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Three students have admitted faking the deaths of two women in a Â£125,000 insurance scam.

At Glasgow Sheriff Court, James Gargett, 21, John Gilbert, 23, and Chris Smith, 21, all from Glasgow, admitted fraud.

The court heard they downloaded death certificates from the internet and penned fake lawyers letters.

They were caught when the husband of one of the women contacted the insurance firm. Sentence was deferred.

Gargett used his position as a part-time broker with Scottish Life Assurance (SLA) to rubber stamp the claims.

Alive and well

Within three weeks of starting, on 1 November 2004, Gargett teamed up with Gilbert.

They alleged a client called Jacqueline Gilbert had died.

A total of Â£30,503 was paid into John Gilbert's bank account.

On 10 December 2004, Gargett and Smith claimed a client named Elizabeth Taplin had died.

The claim was cashed and Â£95,332 was paid into Smith's account.

The trio were caught when Jacqueline Gilbert's husband - also John - called SLA.

Mark Allan, prosecuting, said: "Mr Gilbert contacted the firm to say that annual payments had been returned.

"During the course of that conversation, Mr Gilbert confirmed that his wife was very much alive and well."

The court heard that none of the money stolen was recovered.

Sheriff Deirdre MacNeill QC deferred sentencing until next month for reports.