Allan Formhals, 66, found books and magazines in car boot sales and a recycling centre, added the signatures, then sold them to collectors. He made £6,967 defrauding two collectors after also lying about the provenance of the items.
Advertisement
Police found “an Aladdin’s Cave” of forged signatures including those of Oliver Cromwell, Elizabeth I and Marie Antoinette when the 66-year-old’s home in Milford on Sea, Hants, was searched, Southampton Crown Court heard.
Formhals was found guilty of 10 cases of fraud
Formhals was found guilty of 10 cases of fraud. Judge Peter Henry said the fraud was widespread, well-planned and earned a significant profit.