Gillingham Man Jailed Over Investment Scam
Kevin Pook from Gillingham has been locked up for his role in a brazen fraud. Instead of money going to a genuine company, it was funneled into a business Pook set up in his own name.
How The Scam Unfolded
Back in October 2020, victims were duped after receiving a fake email that looked like it came from a company they planned to invest in. Weeks later, their money vanished.
It took a whole year before they realised they’d been scammed. The phone numbers previously given no longer worked, and their attempt to reinvest ended with empty pockets.
The Police Crackdown
Kent Police investigations revealed the cash was sent to NEG Services Ltd – a shell company based in Ocean Drive, Gillingham, where Kevin Pook was the sole director and resident.
Pook initially disappeared, believed to have fled to Portugal. But he returned to the UK on January 10, 2024, and was arrested at Stansted Airport. He pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court.
Justice Served
On August 19, Pook was sentenced to one year and eight months behind bars. Detective Constable Mark Newman condemned the scam:
“Kevin Pook claimed he didn’t know about the offences and said he just opened an account for others. Even if that’s true, he played a major role in ripping off an innocent couple. We proved he benefited personally.”
Detective Newman added:
“Luckily, the victims were refunded by their bank, but the impact of this crime was devastating. Pook deserves this custodial sentence. This case sends a clear warning: even careful investors can be targeted. Always double-check contact details and where your money goes before investing.”
