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| Mohammed Ashrafi: 'Spiritual healer' jailed for fraud and blackmail | Mohammed Ashrafi: 'Spiritual healer' jailed for fraud and blackmail |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A self-proclaimed spiritual healer has been jailed for nine years after he was found guilty of conning victims out of hundreds of thousands of pounds. | A self-proclaimed spiritual healer has been jailed for nine years after he was found guilty of conning victims out of hundreds of thousands of pounds. |
| Mohammed Ashrafi, 50, scammed 18 people in Leicester from a home in Babingley Drive in the city. | Mohammed Ashrafi, 50, scammed 18 people in Leicester from a home in Babingley Drive in the city. |
| He was convicted of 14 counts of fraud, one attempted fraud and one of blackmail at Leicester Crown Court. | He was convicted of 14 counts of fraud, one attempted fraud and one of blackmail at Leicester Crown Court. |
| The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said Ashrafi ran a "cynical campaign of dishonesty". | The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said Ashrafi ran a "cynical campaign of dishonesty". |
| 'Destroyed my life' | |
| Ashrafi was sentenced to a total of nine years in prison, with six years for the frauds and attempted fraud and three for blackmail. | Ashrafi was sentenced to a total of nine years in prison, with six years for the frauds and attempted fraud and three for blackmail. |
| Earlier in the trial a man, who cannot be named, told Leicester Crown Court how he handed over £150,000 to Ashrafi, who he thought was a faith healer. | Earlier in the trial a man, who cannot be named, told Leicester Crown Court how he handed over £150,000 to Ashrafi, who he thought was a faith healer. |
| The witness told the jury he believed he was being cured of an illness and would win millions in a lottery. | The witness told the jury he believed he was being cured of an illness and would win millions in a lottery. |
| He described how "ashamed" he was and how he became "sucked in" by the 50-year-old. | He described how "ashamed" he was and how he became "sucked in" by the 50-year-old. |
| Steve Chappell, from the CPS, said: "Mohammed Ashrafi ran a sophisticated operation to gain the confidence of his victims and showed no sign of stopping until he was arrested. | |
| "His cynical campaign of dishonesty has been brought to an end because his victims have stood up in court to expose his lies and deception." | |
| One of Ashrafi's victims, who was duped out of more than £60,000, said: "Words can't describe how this incident has made me feel, the whole ordeal has completely taken over and destroyed my life. | |
| "Ashrafi came into my life when I was suffering from ill-health and took advantage of my vulnerability. | |
| "When I look back now I feel intimidated and abused, the way he manipulated me and my family with such ease, makes me feel sick." | |
| Ashrafi had denied all the charges against him and said he was inspired to be a spiritual healer after a miracle in India. | Ashrafi had denied all the charges against him and said he was inspired to be a spiritual healer after a miracle in India. |
| He told the court he had been shot and was unable to walk for four years until he was cured by a faith healer. | He told the court he had been shot and was unable to walk for four years until he was cured by a faith healer. |
| The jury was told he just wanted to "help the poor and sick". | The jury was told he just wanted to "help the poor and sick". |