Lorraine McLaren and her husband Edwin were once hailed as “saviours” by cash-strapped homeowners who turned to them in desperation when financial hardship struck.
But behind the scenes, Edwin used his financial expertise to cruelly dupe unsuspecting victims into signing away their homes, which were then sold from under them.
And Lorraine shamelessly benefited from her husband’s heartless fraud, enjoying life in a £762,000 mansion in Bridge of Weir, Renfrewshire, complete with luxury holidays in Dubai and private schooling for their children. Brazen Lorraine even splashed out on a £100,000 ring while her victims were left homeless and penniless.
View 4 ImagesPolice vans outside the McLarens’ luxury home in Bridge of Weir
The devious couple were finally exposed after one homeowner contacted police when she failed to receive the full amount owed for her house in Cowdenbeath in 2012.
While Edwin was described as the “driving force” behind the staggering £1.7million scam, a judge ruled Lorraine, 55, must have known the cash flooding into her bank account came from proceeds of crime.
After the original complaint, detectives uncovered links to more properties and the investigation was passed to the financial unit in Paisley – where many more victims soon emerged. At the height of the probe, more than 100 police officers were involved as the massive fraud operation was unravelled.
Using his financial background and apparent expertise, Edwin — who was jailed for 11 years — masterminded the scheme through adverts in the national press promoting his business as a “property solution” or “home sale solution” for struggling homeowners. Many of the victims were vulnerable and battling financial misery caused by illness, bereavement or mounting debt.
View 4 ImagesEdwin McLaren takes a victim to the bank(Image: Universal News & Sport (Europe))
The McLarens would offer to buy their homes or lend them money to clear debts, falsely assuring homeowners Edwin would only take part-ownership of the property. In reality, victims were signing over the title deeds to their homes, which were then sold off while the McLarens pocketed the profits.
In other cases, homeowners were drip-fed cash but never received the amounts they had been promised. Prosecutors accused the pair of conning people out of their homes between 2008 and 2012, with 29 properties included in the final indictment in what became Scotland’s longest-ever criminal trial.
At the end of the gruelling 20-month court case, Lorraine was convicted of two charges, including mortgage fraud and money laundering, and jailed for two-and-a-half years. She served just nine months. Lorraine admitted to the Crown she had pocketed £694,950 from criminal conduct.
But she did not return to the lavish home in Quarriers Village she once shared with her conman husband. The sprawling five-bedroom property was seized by prosecutors and sold off at a knockdown price in 2021.
The house – complete with cinema room, breakfast room and gated entrance – had fallen into disrepair and was eventually sold for £150,000 less than Lorraine had originally paid for it.
View 4 ImagesOne of the couple’s ads(Image: Crown)
The McLarens have previously appeared in court complaining their home was about to be repossessed while the Crown fought to seize their assets under proceeds of crime laws.
Prosecutors calculated the pair had raked in £2.4million from the scam, but in August, 2021, they were ordered to repay just £8000 in court.
However, prosecutors vowed they will continue hunting down the missing millions and pursue any remaining assets to claw back the cash. Rather than showing remorse, Lorraine astonishingly claimed during confiscation hearings that they had not done much wrong.
She said: “We never killed anybody. We are not paedophiles. It was white-collar crime.”
Her husband also complained they were owed money in missing rent after allowing tenants to stay in the family home before it was seized.
McLaren admitted he had made £1,722,366.64 during his “course of criminal conduct”. However, authorities were only able to recover £4215.38 from Lorraine and £4000 from Edwin.
During the lengthy proceeds of crime case, prosecutors demanded Edwin explain the £9million they claim passed through his bank accounts.
Since being released from jail, Lorraine was seen living in a modest flat in Glasgow and driving around the city in a five-year-old BMW – a far cry from the Bentley she once enjoyed.
But one of her victims said: “She’s still got a fancy car and house to live in while her victims all ended up with nothing.
“Their homes were ripped from under their feet so she could be dripping in diamonds and her kids at private schools.
“She’s not said sorry or feels any kind of remorse. They only feel sorry for themselves that they were caught and their luxury lifestyles ended.
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“Nine months in prison doesn’t seem like a lot. Where’s all the money gone? I hope they got that ring from her and sold it too.”
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