A crooked property developer and a corrupt lawyer's secretary have been jailed after detectives foiled their homes scam.

Forged documents were used to try to snap up derelict and empty houses by cheating the owners out of their legal rights of ownership, Bradford Crown Court heard.

At the head of the large-scale fraud - the first of its kind ever seen by investigating police - was property developer and builder, Mohammed Alyas, who "thought it would make him a considerable amount of money," said prosecutor Michael Smith.

His need for legal assistance was met by solicitor's secretary Julie Miller, who helped prepare bogus documents and submitted them to the Land Registry.

Alyas, 41, of Seldon Street, Canterbury, Bradford, pleaded guilty to four charges of conspiracy to defraud and was jailed for 40 months.

Sentencing him yesterday, Judge Roger Scott said: "You would pull any stroke available to you to obtain title dishonestly. You used false documents and took advantage of the vulnerable.

"You failed twice and you succeeded twice, although the Land Registry transferred the title back again once they found out what happened."

Mother-of-two Miller, 34, of Bannister Walk, Cowling, Keighley, pleaded guilty to three charges of conspiracy to defraud and was jailed for 14 months.

Describing her as the "adjutant" in the plot, Judge Scott said she had "grabbed with both hands" the opportunity to obtain some money at a time when she was in financial difficulty and having marriage problems.

"I have no doubt you were an extremely efficient adjutant," the judge added. "It was a severe breach of all the trust that members of the public place in solicitors and their staff."

Three more defendants, described by the judge as "the foot soldiers" in the case, had admitted their part in the scam.

Carl Squire, 35, of Carr Bottom Avenue, Wibsey, was sentenced to 11 months suspended for a year and placed under a 12-month supervision order after pleading guilty to two conspiracy charges.

Carol Porritt, 56, and her 37-year-old son, Nicholas Drake, both of West Park Terrace, Girlington, Bradford, were given a six-week sentence suspended for a year and also placed under a 12-month supervision order after they admitted a single charge of conspiracy.

Mr Smith told the court that the conspiracy involved properties in Bradford, Shelf and Keighley.

One was 55 Carr House Lane, Shelf, which had stood empty for a number of years awaiting renovation by its owner, who was aware it could fetch about £250,000 once the work was done.

In February, 2005, the Land Registry received a letter from Miller, who worked for the Cross Hills law firm of Lowe & Co, applying for transfer of the title to Alyas and stating he had lived there for the past 15 years.

Further proof was sought and Alyas generated false documents, but in June the Land Registry rejected the application after a visit was made to the property.

Another property, 237 Rooley Lane, Bradford, was owned by a woman who lived in Hong Kong and relied on her son to manage her business interests.

The house had suffered fire damage, but was thought to be worth about £300,000 with planning permission.

In July, 2005, the son received a phone call from Bradford Council asking for details of the recent sale of the property. It emerged that the Land Registry had been sent an application for transfer of the title to Alyas, using the name of an innocent person to try to create power of attorney.

A third property was 7 Harlow Road, Bradford, an empty house owned by an elderly man and managed by his son. Again, Alyas tried to obtain bogus power of attorney and used an innocent party's name.

The final property was 7 North View, Eastburn, near Keighley, which had stood derelict for 30 years. Alyas tried to obtain power of attorney and also used Drake and Porritt in a bid to falsely register ownership.

Rodney Ferm, for Alyas, said his client very much regretted involving Drake and Porritt in his plan.

Yunus Valli, for Miller, said she had become involved in the serious offences by her own foolishness.

"She is extremely remorseful and regretful, and severely shocked by her own stupidity," he added. "It was not her idea to target these properties - she was not the instigator."

Judge Scott commended the five-strong team of detectives, led by Detective Sergeant Peter McBay, for their efforts in bringing the case to court.

"It is a good result from the public's point of view," he said.