Two men who claimed to be property developers have been jailed for a combined total of 19 years and six months after being found guilty for their crimes.

Nirmal Saund, 51, of Skip Lane in Walsall and Darryl Saund, 31, of Foxcote Drive in Shirley posed as credible businessmen from a Birmingham-based firm known as The Cayman Group to land rental deals on industrial units and residential properties across the Midlands.

However, once leases were secured, the pair used the premises to gain an estimated £35 million in illegal profits, which funded a luxury lifestyle including expensive homes.

Nirmal Saund admitted to conspiracy to supply illegal substances and was jailed for 10 years and six months, while Darryl Saund, who denied his involvement but was found guilty at trial, was sentenced to nine years in jail.

Investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Jamie Mason of West Midlands Police said the pair posed as credible businessmen and acted with confidence to fool many letting agents.

"They cloned several alter egos and invented fictitious businesses which they registered at Company’s House to reinforce their appearance as genuine business clients,” said Det Sgt Mason.

"It’s satisfying to have brought these men to justice and their living conditions over the next few years is going to be very different from that they’ve become accustomed."

“…The Regional Asset Recovery Team (RART) will be pursuing a Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) application through the courts to recover any cash or property we can link to criminality.

"They will then have the option of repaying the cash into the public purse or spending even more time behind bars."