A rogue trader who conned 11 elderly victims across London into paying for ‘pointless repairs’ has been found guilty of fraud and money laundering
On 11 April, a jury at Inner London Crown Court convicted rogue trader, Patrick Cleere of conspiracy to defraud and two counts of converting criminal property following a six-week trial.
A second defendant, William Cleere previously pleaded guilty on 27 March to converting criminal property.
A third defendant, Timothy Cleere also previously pleaded guilty on 2 July to converting criminal property.
All three men will be sentenced at Inner London Crown Court on 10 May.
The court heard that 11 elderly and vulnerable victims across Waltham Forest, Enfield, Redbridge, Haringey, Bromley and Essex were targeted between 1 April 2016 and 30 September 2016.
In each case, rogue builders pressured the victims to pay money for fraudulent roofing and drainage repairs which one building surveyor described as “totally pointless”.
The scam involved the use of a variety of fake company names to target vulnerable householders and created professional-looking leaflets. Victims were offered a gutter cleaning service and it was then claimed their roof or drain urgently needed repairing.
The group then demanded increasing amounts of money for work that was either not carried out or done to a poor standard.
In one case, building repairs described by a surveyor as “abysmal”, for which a victim in Penge paid more than £38,000, were worth just £250.
Over six months April to September 2016, police believe the scammers made at least £388,000.
Officers from Waltham Forest CID launched an investigation in June 2016 after they were made aware of the group’s activity by a victim in Chingford.
Following an 18-month joint investigation by the Met and Bromley, Enfield and Essex Trading Standards, police charged the five defendants on 17 November 2017.
The gang opened numerous bank accounts in false names using fraudulent identification documents. Detectives traced the defendants through analysis of payments made by the victims. The group laundered funds through a complex financial network in the UK and Gibraltar.
Detective Constable David Saffery, who led the investigation, said: “These criminals ruined the lives of the vulnerable and elderly householders they preyed on.
“After a careful and meticulous joint investigation, the scammers have been brought to justice.
“I would urge anyone who has been a victim of this type of criminality to speak to police at the earliest opportunity. We have specialist officers who will investigate and support you.”
