Picture this: you’re at the gym, your phone and wallet securely locked away. You feel a sense of safety, inadvertently lowering your guard. In an alarming case of repeat offending, Ashley Singh, 35, and his younger accomplice, Sophie Bruyea, 20, orchestrated a year-long crime spree, targeting gym-goers across South East England.
Their modus operandi was simple yet effective: stealing bank cards and SIMs from unsuspecting victims’ lockers. The scale of their theft was staggering, with over £250,000 stolen. This hefty sum funded their extravagant lifestyle, including trips to glamorous destinations like Dubai and the Amalfi Coast, lavish shopping sprees in designer stores, and even the purchase of a pedigree puppy.
The Recurring Theme of Early Prison Release
Singh’s criminal journey reveals a troubling pattern. In 2019, he was sentenced to six and a half years for similar offences but was released early on parole. This early release proved to be a critical mistake. Had he served his full sentence, Singh would have remained in prison until 2025, preventing the subsequent spree.
Previously, Singh and his then-partner-in-crime, Tony Clark, embarked on a similar fraudulent scheme, plundering over £230,000 from gym-goers. Their strategy involved taking photos of victims’ credit cards and replacing the SIMs in their phones. This tactic gave them control over their victim’s bank accounts, facilitating extravagant purchases, including luxury items like Rolex watches.
Singh’s Arrest and Subsequent Crimes
Singh’s criminal record is extensive, with 19 previous convictions, including nine for theft and two for fraud. Between 2016 and 2017, Singh and Clark targeted various gyms in London. They gained control over their victim’s bank accounts by breaking into lockers and stealing phone SIMs and card information. This control allowed them to alter PINs, increase credit card limits, and transfer money between accounts.
One of their victims discovered the theft only after being informed by their bank of an address change and the redirection of a new card. In April 2019, Singh’s sentencing at Inner London Crown Court was for his crimes across London gyms and for assaulting a gym officer. Despite this, his early release allowed him to once again engage in criminal activities.
Following Singh’s arrest in 2018, the police discovered several computers, tablets, and two Rolex watches valued at £45,000. His reaction to his 2019 sentencing was one of frustration and despair. However, the judge was unmoved by Singh’s claims of reform. Unfortunately, Singh’s release from prison saw him returning to his fraudulent ways.
The 2022-2023 Crime Wave
Singh, alongside Bruyea, resumed their criminal activities post-release. Between January 2022 and January 2023, they stole a further £250,000, targeting gym lockers once again. They flaunted their ill-gotten gains on social media, posting photos of themselves enjoying a luxurious lifestyle, including driving high-end cars and visiting exclusive locations like the Aura Skypool in Dubai.
Their arrest in January of the following year came as they returned from Paris, carrying around £1,700 of designer goods. Their crimes caused their victims significant stress and financial loss, as heard in Croydon Crown Court.
Sentencing and the Law’s Response
Upon their conviction for conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation, Singh was sentenced to three years in prison. Bruyea received a 20-month sentence in a young offenders’ institute, suspended for two years. She was also ordered to partake in a rehabilitation program and complete 120 hours of unpaid work.
Detective Constable Luis Da Silva from the Met’s economic crime team highlighted the significant impact of Singh and Bruyea’s actions on their victims. The team’s dedication to the case underscores the severity with which such crimes are treated. He also emphasised that reporting theft is vital in reducing crime and ensuring justice for victims.
Fraud Prevention and Awareness
Combating this type of scam presents significant challenges. The fraudsters’ strategy of swapping the SIM card with a dummy is, admittedly, quite clever as it buys them extra time to perpetrate their crimes. This underscores the importance of fraud awareness because if gym-goers were aware of such scams, they might opt not to leave their phones in the lockers. True, fraudsters could still steal their bank cards, but the potential for major harm diminishes without the associated SIM card.
Moreover, the sentencing in these cases often seems disproportionately lenient. Consider the impact of this scam: 18 lives upended and significant financial loss, all orchestrated by an individual previously convicted of the same crime. A mere three-year prison sentence is hardly sufficient. It fails to convey a strong message of deterrence and does little to reflect the severity of the crime and its profound impact on the victims.
