Inquiry shows Patel was ‘problem gambler’

The murder and fraud probe revealed Sandeep Patel was a selfconfessed “problem gambler”.

He had bet more than £109,000 between 2016 and 2020, winning just around a quarter of that back.

In desperate need for cash, he used Annie Temple while claiming to be a helpful friend.

Patel cashed a number of cheques – totalling £1,500 – in Annie’s name the week prior to her death.

He had then tried to pocket a further £1,250 two days before the murder, but suspicious staff at Annie’s bank blocked the payment.

Annie was spoken to and admitted she did not even know she had a cheque book.

It also emerged that in June 2019, Patel had gone with Annie to her bank hoping to transfer more than £4,000 for a supposed car purchase.

Staff again did not allow the transaction to go through.

Patel once got a £5 cheque as an overpayment from a car company.

He then tried to cash it for £500 by illegally adding two zeroes.

Police examined a number of Patel’s electronic devices, including messages on them.

In one WhatsApp text in January 2019, Patel stated to a friend: “Mrs T got 2-300k in bank”.

He also discussed the house being worth “100k”.

Other messages in the month of the murder revealed Patel being warned about arrears in loan payments.

The trial in June was hit by several delays mostly sparked by Patel, who appeared in the dock on crutches.

His claims included fears he had Covid-19, and that he could not concentrate on evidence due to “ringing” in his ears.