Fraudster who used stolen card details to buy goods jailed

Along with sisters Sarah, Lynsey, and Emmiline Burdon, Sonia Malhi attended high-end businesses to purchase goods using payment card details from stolen receipts.

The group targeted businesses across the north west – including in Northwich, Knutsford, Alderley Edge and Mobberley – plus Yorkshire and Leicestershire.

From the initial offence on December 17, 2019, officers were able to identify more than 150 fraudulent transactions by May 2020 – with losses totalling more than £62,000.

Items targeted included designer clothing, power tools, high performance car parts, motorcycles and motorcycle accessories.

While the women kept some of the items they bought fraudulently, on other occasions they would return to the stores and request a refund.

They would then put their own payment card into the machine so that the money would go into their own personal bank accounts.

The group received more than £16,000 worth of fraudulent refunds from doing this.

Their crime spree came to an end on May 13 when a team of 50 officers from Cheshire executed warrants at the home addresses of the four women in Manchester.

They were all arrested and a number of items were recovered including an Audi car, motorcycle clothing, two electric scooters, designer watches and clothing, furniture and a quantity of cash.

Malhi appeared at Carlisle Crown Court last Friday, January 29, where she was sentenced to 20 months in prison.

Hearing: Carlisle Crown Court

The 38-year-old of Hobson Crescent, Audenshaw, had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud, theft, possession of a weapon in a public place and possession of class A drugs (cocaine).

She also admitted a second conspiracy to commit fraud involving a separate investigation by Cumbria Police.

Sarah Burdon, 40, of Evesham Road, Lynsey Burdon, 36, of Brynorme Road, and Emmiline Burdon, 29, of Riverdale Road, were sentenced to a total of four-and-a-half years in prison last August.

Det Con Claire Heatley, from Northwich local policing unit, said: “Malhi’s sentencing brings to a close what has been a lengthy and complex investigation spanning many force borders.

“Over an eight-month period the gang systematically siphoned more than £45,000 from the accounts of innocent members of the public by purchasing items using stolen account details.

“They even had the audacity claim refunds of a number of these items and had the money put into their own personal accounts. This resulted in the group receiving more than £16,000.

“Even being in a lockdown during the coronavirus crisis did not stop the women in their pursuit for the luxury life.

"When high street stores were closed, they started targeting off-licences and petrol stations where they purchased large quantities of alcohol and cigarettes along with hundreds of pounds worth of lottery tickets.

"Using the skills she learnt while working with the Burdon sisters, Malhi also set up her own separate gang who scammed nearly 14,000 from luxury hotels and restaurants in Cumbria.

“Thankfully, their illegal spending spree has been stopped and all four women are all now facing the consequences of their actions.”

Following their sentencing, a Proceeds of Crime hearing will take place at a later date, where a decision will be made regarding the seizure – and possible sale of – any assets owned by the women.