Between 2012 and 2014, over 240 victims were persuaded to transfer their pension savings, totalling approximately £13.5 million, into 10 scam schemes. Our investigation led to the prosecution and conviction of two defendants, Alan Barratt and Susan Dalton. On 22 April 2022 they were sentenced at Southwark Crown Court for offences of fraud by abuse of position arising from their roles as trustees of the following 10 pension schemes:
- Gresham Investment Pension Scheme
- Regency Pension Investments Pension Scheme
- Gresham (2012) Pension Scheme
- Dellaney Gibbons Pension Scheme
- Abbey Mage Pension Scheme
- Williams Bell Pension Scheme
- Callahan Consulting Pension Scheme
- Western Cross Pension Scheme
- Fort Bruce Pension Scheme
- Daycroft Pension Scheme
A timetable has been set under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 for confiscation proceedings, with a final hearing expected to take place in 2023. The updates below give more detail on the history of the criminal proceedings.
Updates
13 March 2023
Confiscation proceedings at Southwark Crown Court have been adjourned to 30 June 2023 when the case will be listed for further directions.
27 February 2023
The hearing at Southwark Crown Court on 10 March will now be for directions only. A final hearing date for the confiscation proceedings will be confirmed in due course.
30 January 2023
The financial investigation continues. The final confiscation hearing is still expected to take place at Southwark Crown Court on 10 March 2023.
29 November 2022
The financial investigation in respect of confiscation proceedings continues. The final hearing is expected to take place at Southwark Crown Court on 10 March 2023.
31 August 2022
The case team continues to work on the confiscation proceedings. The Hearing of 4 November 2022 has been administratively adjourned to 10 March 2023.
22 April 2022
At Southwark Crown Court Alan Barratt and Susan Dalton were sentenced for offences of fraud by abuse of position.
Alan Barratt was sentenced to 5 years and 7 months imprisonment and disqualified from being a company director for 8 years.
Susan Dalton was sentenced to 4 years and 8 months imprisonment and disqualified from being a company director for 8 years.
A timetable has been set under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 for confiscation proceedings with a final hearing expected to take place on 4 November 2022.
29 March 2022
At Southwark Crown Court a date was fixed for the sentencing of Alan Barratt and Susan Dalton following their guilty pleas at earlier hearings to offences of fraud by abuse of position. The sentencing hearing will take place at Southwark Crown Court on Friday 22 April 2022.
After an extensive review of the case against Julian Hanson and his actions as the sole director of the corporate trustee of the Friendly Pension Retirement Fund pension scheme, we have decided that whilst the evidential test continued to be met, it was no longer in the public interest to continue with the prosecution against him. We have therefore formally offered no evidence against him which means that the case against him is now at an end.
14 January 2022
On 11 May 2021, Alan Barratt pleaded not guilty to a charge of fraud by abuse of position. Today at Southwark Crown Court, Mr Barratt changed his plea to guilty.
Susan Dalton entered a guilty plea at a previous hearing.
Julian Hanson has pleaded not guilty to a charge of fraud by abuse of position. His trial is due to take place at Southwark Crown Court on 13 June 2022.
Alan Barratt and Susan Dalton will be sentenced at the conclusion of Julian Hanson's trial.
At this point in the proceedings, we would like to give members of above-named schemes the chance to make a Victim Personal Statement. This gives you an opportunity to have a voice in the criminal justice process and helps the court to understand how this crime has affected you – whether that be physically, emotionally, psychologically, financially or in any other way. The judge considers Victim Personal Statements at sentencing.
Update: the deadline for providing Victim Personal Statements has now closed. We are no longer accepting Victim Personal Statements.
18 November 2021
We are continuing preparations for the trial against Alan Barratt and Julian Hanson. This remains scheduled for 13 June 2022, with a time estimate of three weeks.
Susan Dalton’s sentencing will be scheduled after the conclusion of Alan Barratt’s and Julian Hanson’s trial.
11 May 2021
Alan Barratt, Susan Dalton and Julian Hanson appeared at Southwark Crown Court.
Alan Barratt and Julian Hanson pleaded not guilty to an offence of fraud by abuse of position and a trial date was fixed for 13 June 2022 at Southwark Crown Court with a time estimate of three weeks. Susan Dalton’s sentencing hearing was adjourned pending the outcome of the trial.
13 April 2021
Alan Barratt, Susan Dalton and Julian Hanson appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court, each charged with an offence of fraud by abuse of position.
Alan Barratt indicated he would plead not guilty to the offence and Julian Hanson did not indicate a plea. The case against Alan Barratt and Julian Hanson was sent to Southwark Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on 11 May 2021. Susan Dalton entered a guilty plea to the offence and her case was committed to Southwark Crown Court for sentence on 11 May 2021.
20 March 2021
Alan Barratt was arrested in Alicante, Spain, under a European Arrest Warrant issued by Westminster Magistrates' Court and then extradited to the UK.
Alan Barratt appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 20 March where he was released on conditional bail (including to remain in the UK and surrender his passport). The case was adjourned until 13 April 2021 at Westminster Magistrates' Court when he will appear with Susan Dalton and Julian Hanson. The case is expected to be sent to the Crown Court.
29 January 2021
Susan Dalton and Julian Hanson appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court and the case was adjourned to 12 March 2021. This hearing was adjourned administratively to the 13 April 2021.
8 January 2021
Susan Dalton was arrested and brought before Westminster Magistrates' Court. Her case was adjourned to 29 January 2021.
Further support
If you believe that you are a victim of this case, contact us by email at projectcardinal@tpr.gov.uk.
Help and support for victims of crime is available from Victim Support.