A fraudster jailed after stealing from his in-laws, and who allegedly stole thousands of pounds from a community eruv fund, has pleaded that his family should not be treated as "guilty by association".

Dan Jacobs wrote to the JC this week from his prison cell in Wormwood Scrubs, after being sentenced last month to five years behind bars for five counts of fraud. He stole £120,573 from his wife's parents and elderly grandmother to fund his gambling addiction.

He is also alleged to have stolen £40,000 from the trust established to oversee the construction of the Elstree & Borehamwood eruv, after acting as its company secretary.

In his letter he admitted: "My actions are nothing to be proud of, wrong, almost barbaric. What I did to my own family was something people won't ever be able to imagine." But he added: "My family, my wife and children are victims and not guilty by association. It is because of my actions that, for example, my son will have to celebrate his barmitzvah without his father present."

He said he hoped his conviction would serve as a lesson to people suffering similar addictions. He warned: "For those people, please take action now, before it is too late."

Meanwhile, Elstree & Borehamwood Synagogue, which Jacobs formerly belonged to, has rejected rumours that it has ostracised the family and has prevented Jacobs's son from having his barmitzvah at the shul.

A spokesperson said: "Borehamwood & Elstree Synagogue is pleased to welcome Mrs Jacobs and her family to our community for their simchah.

"We are currently working with the family to ensure that the occasion is celebrated appropriately."

Mr Jacobs' letter in full:

I refer to your various articles regarding my charges and the custodial sentence I got at Harrow Crown Court on October 30. My actions are nothing to be proud of, they were wrong, almost barbaric. What I did to my own family was something people can’t ever imagine and the judge was correct when he said that my severe gambling addiction had led me to do things which were ‘’frankly unbelievable’’. There are two things I would like to say on this matter. First, my family, wife and children are victims and not guilty by association. It is because of my actions, for example, that my son will have to celebrate his barmitzvah without his father by his side.

Second, if there is one good thing that I hope can come from this, it is that people with addictions will read my story and take action now before it is too late. There are people to talk to — so do it now.

Dan Jacobs,
HMP Wormwood Scrubs,
London W12