Con-man who tricked vulnerable Bucks pensioner out of £17k jailed
The case was investigated and prosecuted by Buckinghamshire & Surrey Trading Standards Service
A man who was involved in conning a pensioner out of £17,000 has been jailed.
Miles Cassidy, Director of the company Watford UPVC and Roofing Limited, was convicted of one count of fraudulent trading after a homeowner from Prestwood was scammed while electronic payment was being taken for works carried out to their property.
Cassidy was sentenced to a total of 15 months and two weeks in prison. He was also banned from being a director of any company for a period of six years.
The case was investigated and prosecuted by Buckinghamshire & Surrey Trading Standards Service.
During the trial the court heard how in November 2021 Cassidy and another man agreed to carry out work to the roof of the victim's house and a contract was agreed stating a cost of £6,450.
The homeowner paid an £800 deposit on request and a few days later he paid a further £3,750 for other works. A further payment for £6,450 was made the same day. A problem arose with the card reader provided at the time, but a number of weeks later on reviewing his bank statement, the homeowner discovered an unauthorised withdrawal of £6,000 had been made from his bank account.
In total, between 19 and 23 November 2021, £17,000 was paid to bank accounts owned by Cassidy and shortly after withdrawn from the accounts.
At the trial, the jury unanimously returned a guilty verdict within an hour and a half on the charge of fraudulent trading.
At the hearing on 14 May, the sentencing judge, HHJ Keeley, praised the work of the Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards team, saying: “Thank you for your hard work, these cases are really difficult to investigate and prosecute. I thank you for your industry”.