'Quadriplegic' conman who claimed he was in a coma to avoid justice jailed

A British man who allegedly pretended to be a comatose quadraplegic to escape justice after tricking a neighbour out of $63,000 has been jailed for four and a half years. Alan Knight (pictured) was spotted on shopping trips and holidays as he avoided court for two years after claiming he had suffered a serious neck injury. The 47-year-old from Swansea in Wales claimed he was caring for next door neighbour Ivor Richards as he “drained” the dementia sufferer’s bank accounts and spent the money on a caravan and holidays.

Alan Knight is as dishonest a man as I have ever come across. When these matters came to light he decided to do everything he could to avoid responsibility for his actions.

Judge Thomas passing sentence

He also forged the will of Mr Richards - using the names of two dead women he found in a newspaper obituary column as counter-signatories - as his elderly neighbour was in a care home. As police tried to bring him to court for the fraud he claimed his neck injury had “worsened” and admitted himself to hospital. When he finally appeared at court, Knight arrived in a wheelchair and neck brace. He admitted 19 counts of forgery, fraud and theft and was remanded in custody. The claims he deliberately used his alleged injury to avoid court will be the subject of a separate investigation. Knight had been planning to plead not guilty but changed his mind after it was revealed he had been caught on CCTV walking around while out shopping.

He tried to blame his own son for what he had done - which resulted in him being arrested - and accused his own son of being bribed by a police officer. It is clear that Alan Knight would stop at nothing in order to try and save his own skin.

Judge Thomas

Europe conman