West Berkshire pensioner conned for drain and damp proof repairs

Two men have been sentenced for defrauding a West Berkshire pensioner in his 80s.

They conned him out of nearly £15,000 – by convincing him he needed unnecessary drains repairs and damp proof work.

Two Bournemouth-based traders appeared before Reading Magistrates on December 6 for sentencing, after pleading guilty at a previous hearing.

Daniel Fidler, aged 31 of Fletcher Road, Bournemouth, was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment for fraud, suspended for two years, and ordered to pay £4,000 towards the prosecution’s costs.

Also in the dock was Aaron Civil, aged 34 of Grantham Road, Bournemouth, who was sentenced to nine months imprisonment for consumer protection offences, suspended for 18 months, and penalised with 100 hours of unpaid work plus 20 days of a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement.

The prosecution followed an investigation by officers from the Shared Trading Standards Service supported by the Joint Case Management Unit and West Berkshire Council’s legal services.

The case concerned two cold call visits to a West Berkshire resident’s home, made on December 29, 2021, and February 2, 2022.

The resident was in his mid-80s at the time and his vulnerability was considered a significant aggravating factor in this case.

During the first visit, false claims were made that the drains at that address needed repairs, costing the victim £3,890.00.

In the second visit, false claims were made that the damp proof course had perished.

The victim was charged £9,650 to fix it.

Both times Mr Civil failed to provide information about a consumer’s right to cancel.

The work carried out was wholly unnecessary and poorly executed. There was also no evidence that the drains required repair and the repair done was not to an acceptable standard. None of the work had any value.

Mr Fidler has previously been investigated by PPP and convicted of fraud and consumer offences committed between 2018 and 2020, resulting in an immediate 38-month prison sentence.

Commenting on the case Lee Dillon (Lib Dem, Thatcham), leader of West Berkshire Council and executive member with responsibility for Public Protection, said “I would like to thank officers for their efforts in achieving this outcome.

“This prosecution shows that we take illegal business activity very seriously and we will not hesitate to take action against fraudsters, especially where they deliberately target our more vulnerable residents.”