ECHO readers have branded the judicial system a "joke" after a man who stole up to £195,000 walked free from court.
Rais Kayani took £195,000 in government grants by pretending to run businesses, including a Greggs bakery. False applications were sent to a number of councils, including St Helens, Thurrock and Rochdale.
The councils were defrauded out of £35,000, £85,000 and £75,000 respectively, between May 4 and May 9, 2020. When making the applications to St Helens council, the fraudsters had impersonated high street bakery chain Greggs.
