A fraudster forged his ex-wife’s signature and illicitly sold their marital home to an unsuspecting Fife doctor, who has ended up nearly £100,000 out of pocket.
Crook Donald Booth was convicted by a jury last week of forging Nicola Booth’s signature on a separation agreement and a deed purporting to transfer to him sole title to the Dunfermline property.
He went on to sell the house to Dr Babar Akbar in late 2016, swindling his ex-wife out of £123,000 in the process.
A sheriff later reinstated Mrs Booth as a co-owner of the property, leaving Dr Akbar jointly owning his own home with a complete stranger.
Donald Booth, 61, was found guilty of the fraud following a week-long trial at Dunfermline Sheriff Court last week.
Speaking after the verdict, Dr Akbar revealed he was forced to buy out Mrs Booth’s share of the property in 2021 and has spent £80,000 in legal fees.
He said he received compensation for loss of property from the Registers of Scotland at taxpayer expense, which has covered most of the buyout but none of the legal fees.
Dr Akbar, who is the clinical lead for urgent care services (out of hours) in Fife, said he ended up selling the family home – where he lived with his parents and wife – after what he described as “probably the most stressful thing I have ever experienced”.
The 35-year-old, who now lives elsewhere in Dunfermline, said: “I am not satisfied because justice has been delivered but at what cost?
“The bottom line is she (Mrs Booth) has been hard done by but… her gripe is with him and I am an innocent person who bought the house in good faith”.
Law change needed to stop repeat
Dr Akbar, who worked tirelessly on Covid wards during the pandemic, agreed to buy the Duloch home when he was presented with documentation showing Donald Booth as the sole owner.
He said if there is no way for solicitors to verify the authenticity of a signature on such documents, there should be safeguards to protect buyers.
The medic, who also teaches at Dundee and St Andrews medical schools, says there is a “gaping loophole in the system”.
He said: “My hope (from this) will be – and I am going out on a limb – that perhaps the legal and justice secretary of this country sits up and takes notice.
“I hope lawmakers actually sit down and draft something in terms of the law of the land to make sure nothing like this happens again and I would hope no one else has to go through what I have gone through”.
The doctor, who has spoken to Dunfermline MSP Shirley-Anne Somerville about the matter, says he is aware of his own case being studied at law school in Dundee.
Taking into account the legal fees and other costs including paying towards the buyout of Mrs Booth’s share of the property, he reckons he has lost between £80,000 and £100,000.
Fraud spotted by wife
A source told The Courier the Booths split up in 2015.
Nicola Booth moved to Leicestershire and as she browsed property prices there on Rightmove in 2017, spotted her Dunfermline home had been sold.
She was able to tell the authorities she was actually at home with her new partner enjoying a takeaway meal at the time she was said to have signed the documents.
A handwriting expert also confirmed the signature was likely to be a simulation by someone who knew how she signed her name.
The Courier has attempted to contact Nicola Booth.
Court has ‘no authority’ rant
Booth’s trial was largely conducted in his absence due to his own constant interruptions.
Unusually, the jury delivered their guilty verdict without him being in the dock.
Sheriff Susan Duff then discharged the jury and Booth, brought from custody, had the verdict delivered to him by the sheriff as some of the former jurors watched on from the public gallery.
As Sheriff Duff spoke, Booth shouted multiple times: “I am not a legal person”.
He continued: “I have not taken part in this. There is no defence. This court has no authority.
“This court has no authority (over) me whatsoever. I am a legal beneficiary of my estate. This is ridiculous”.
A jury convicted Booth of forming and pursuing a fraudulent scheme to obtain sole title to the matrimonial home in Braemar Gardens, Dunfermline, and the entire proceeds of sale.
It was found that in pursuance of the scheme, between August 5 2016 and December 16 2016, he forged, or had forged, the signature of his ex-wife on documents.
He presented these as genuine to a solicitor and the Registers of Scotland, inducing the latter to alter the registration details to record him as the sole owner of the property.
Booth also instructed the marketing and sale of the house, whereby it was purchased by Dr Akbar.
Part of the indictment states Booth knew his ex-wife did not sign the documents and did not consent to the transfer or sale of the house.
He was convicted of retaining the proceeds of sale and obtaining £123,597 or thereby by fraud.
The jury took about 15 minutes to reach their guilty verdict.
Sheriff Duff deferred sentencing to obtain background reports and he was remanded in custody.
Crook directed financial scam recovery firm
Booth previously ran a company which claimed to help victims of financial scams.
Financial Recovery Claims was set up in November 2015 but dissolved in August 2017.
In an online profile, Booth said he had worked in the industry for several years advising legal teams and accountants working with those who had been mis-sold financial products or fallen foul of fraudulent investment scams.
He is also listed on Companies House as the director of several other companies which have been dissolved.
These include Scotia Global Energy Ltd, Economic Development and Defence Ltd, The Natural Winemakers Ltd, and Security Protection Services Ltd.
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