Gordon Aspden prosecutes fraudulent art dealer

Rizvan Rahman, an art dealer trading under the name of Haslam and Purdy, today admitted two counts of fraudulent trading, eight counts of selling false works and two of possessing articles for use in fraud.
Gordon Aspden, prosecuting, told Leicester Crown Court:

"Between January 2008 and October 2009, Rahman defrauded galleries and members of the public by selling paintings he falsely claimed were genuine and original works of art. His motive was to make money at the expense of innocent purchasers and the amount involved was £179,450."

Rahman sold the forgeries to galleries and private individuals throughout the country. They included works by post-war British artists including Jack Pender, Sandra Blow, Terry Frost and Wilhelmina Barns-Graham and a piece falsely attributed to LS Lowry, which was sold for £35,000.
A police search of Rahman's home founds forgeries said to be by Picasso, Francis Bacon and Lucian Freud.

The former art teacher was jailed for 18 months and now faces asset forfeiture proceedings.