Man stole victim's identity to rent homes across Lancs for cannabis farms

A man rented properties across Lancashire, using fraudulent identification, in order to grow cannabis.

Last April, police launched operation grimsby after numerous cannabis grows were located in rental properties across Fylde.

The team discovered they had been rented using forged documents using a fraud victim’s details. Suspected fraud had been reported to a police force outside of Lancashire.

Lee Flaherty, 42, of Regent Road, Bolton, used the victim’s ID and forged documents to fraudulently rent 17 properties across Lancashire, Manchester, Newcastle, Durham, Scotland and Northern Ireland. A significant number of these properties were used to grow cannabis.

Investigations into money and phone records revealed information that connected Flaherty to illegal activity. 

He created fake identification, including birth certificates, driving licences, and wage slips in the victim's name. He also created aliases to provide false references to estate agents and landlords.

In January, Fylde Rural Task Force executed several warrants across Lancashire and Manchester. Flaherty was arrested and found in possession of several mobile phones which he used when pretending to be the victim and his aliases. Also located at his home were falsified documents in the victim’s name.

Flaherty was charged and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud, conspiracy to produce cannabis and possession of identity documents with improper intention.

On Wednesday, May 28, Lee was sentenced to two years and two months in prison.

A police spokesperson said: “These offences have had a detrimental impacted on the victim, estate agents and landlords who have suffered significant financial loss and damage to their properties.

“Fylde Police hope this reassures our community that we are committed to investigating serious organised criminality and take your reports and concerns seriously.

"We would like to remind criminals that cross-border criminality will not be tolerated in Fylde and we will continue to target, disrupt and convict those involved.”