Estate agent conmen 'in danger of suicide'
Marc Mullen
Hampstead estate agents who swindled a paranoid schizophrenic out of more than £500,000 would be suicide risks behind bars, warn their lawyers.
Malcolm Green, 39, and Gem Shevket, 34, were found guilty last Friday of conning Marshall Davis out of £200,000 in cash and £320,000 in shares.
They were also found guilty of stealing gold coins, a rare stamp collection and his mother's engagement ring.
Green, who owned Greenfields estate agency on Heath Street, and his employee Shevket will spend Christmas and New Year in prison.
The pair will return to Snaresbrook Crown Court for sentencing on January 4 when psychiatric reports will be presented to judge Andrew Collender QC.
Edward Henry, defending Green, said: "I am worried about the risk of suicide. There is also a background in his medical history of depression.
"Immediate imprisonment is inevitable - but it may be considered by the court in respect of its length."
Olukemi Fapohunda, representing Shevket, said: "He has recurring depression and suicidal tendencies. He is on medication for the depression.
"We feel a psychiatric report would be very helpful."
During a six-week trial, the jury heard Green, from Gainsborough House, Heath Street, claimed to be a former high-flying merchant banker with Credit Suisse, who set up Greenfields with his city bonuses.
But detectives say they cannot even be certain that Green and Shevket are the pair's real names.
Police suspect Green is an illegal immigrant, who took on the identity of a Highgate School pupil. There is no record of him attending the prestigious private school.
In April 2004, the pair first met Mr Davis, who has a 10-year history of mental illness.
Green told him his name was Joseph Alexander, while Shevket claimed to be a Martin or Richard Ramswell.
Shevket then drew up investment contracts, promising to repay Mr Davis £500billion if he gave them £200,000.
In court, the pair tried to blame each other for the fraud.
Green claimed he was in the south of France on business and had left Shevket to deal with Mr Davis. Shevket claimed he was just the "office dogsbody".
The court heard that Green told police: "The shares and the money I received from Marshall Davis were seen as gifts.
"As far as I am concerned, Marshall Davis wanted to unburden himself of certain interests."
The trial was also thrown into disarray when the court heard how Shevket's sister, Zehra Shevket, had an affair with leading police investigator DC Steve Pointon.
The case took three years to come to court after Green absconded to France and Shevket changed his name to Miles Cortez and disappeared to Colombia.
But Green was arrested in Switzerland in January and Shevket was forced to return to Britain after police froze his assets.
Green was also convicted of a separate charge of obtaining money by deception but cleared of another deception count.
Shevket, 34, from Newsholme Drive, Grange Park, was also found guilty of obtaining property and money by deception.
After the case, DC Kevin Brocklesby said: "Green was falling on bad times. His business was failing. It so happened that Shevket was also there and they took advantage of Marshall Davis and got carried away with it."
marc.mullen@hamhigh.co.uk
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