A man faked coma for two years to escape trial in court for swindling his neighbor over £40,000. The man from Swansea, Wales, Alan Knight might have gone a long way, if not for his supermarket loyalty card, police says.
Knight, a British fraudster pretended to be quadriplegic and claimed to be in coma for two years to avoid prosecution. However, he didn't escape this time after cops caught him on camera strolling in supermarkets, swiping his loyalty card and even driving.
The man faked coma for two years to avoid going to jail. After he was caught by police, he even submitted himself to be confined in a hospital to avoid court examination on two occasions.
Knight, 47, stole a huge amount amounting to over 40,000 pounds ($64,000) from the bank account of an old neighbor who has Alzheimer's disease, investigators said.
While in the hospital, Knight was also seen on camera by his doctors eating, writing and wiping his face. "In my entire career this is the most calculated, long-term deception of a vulnerable, elderly neighbor I have ever seen," states Det Con Paul Harry, from South Wales Police.
Helen Knight, the suspect's wife, had written to South Wales Evening Post newspaper saying her husband had acquired a certification from his doctor stating he is "quadriplegic and in a comatose condition, bed-bound at home after a neck injury."
In his trial Tuesday, the man faked coma for two years arrived in court on a wheelchair and neck brace. After video evidence, he pleaded guilty for theft and forgery at Swansea Crown Court.
Knight, the man faked coma for two years admitted 19 counts of theft and forgery. He will face his jail sentence Nov. 7.
