A judge has criticised police over an investigation into a conman that dragged on for eight years, a delay so prolonged that one victim withdrew from the case entirely and an accomplice of the fraudster died before proceedings could conclude. The case highlights concerns about lengthy police investigation times and the toll such delays can take on victims and the pursuit of justice, with critics arguing that protracted probes risk undermining public confidence in the justice system.

The full detail of the case, including the identities of those involved and the specific nature of the fraud, was not available in the source material. However, the core criticism centres on the length of the investigation and its consequences: a victim's decision to no longer pursue the matter and the death of a co-accused, both of which the judge suggested could have been avoided with swifter police action.