Nearly 250 people lost their entire life savings as a result of a multimillion-pound pension scam perpetrated by convicted fraudsters.

66-year-old Susan Dalton and 62-year-old Alan Barratt helped defraud 245 victims of £13.7 million between 2012 and 2014.

A police interview under caution with the scam’s “mastermind,” David Austin, led to his death in 2019.

According to Judge Gregory Perrins, who handed down the sentence, they caused “such misery to so many people,” including victims who had mental health issues and even attempted suicide.

“Your actions have ruined the lives of so many people, and you should both be ashamed of yourselves,” he said.

Forcing savers to switch from legitimate to fraudulent pension schemes was the court’s understanding of Dalton and Barratt’s scheme.

They were taken from their savings, the judge was told, not from the victims’ commission payments from the new schemes.

Austin allegedly used the money to fund his businesses, pay others involved in the operation, and enrich himself and his family.

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