The cowboy roofers and builders cold called elderly victims and told them urgent remedial works needed doing on their homes
From top left: Michael Everton, Serena Robertson, Alan Smith, Chelsea Bayliss. Bottom row from left: Frederick Finney, Carla Mary Finney, Charles Walter Farrow and Christopher Morley(Image: National Trading Standards)
More jail terms have been handed out to members of a fraud ring that targeted elderly and vulnerable victims across the north of England. The group of cowboy roofers that convinced elderly people that work needed completing on their homes scammed victims out of more than £1 million and caused “serious financial and emotional harm” according to a National Trading Standards boss.
The scam ring operated across a wide area of the country and defrauded victims as far north as Northumberland and down to Lincolnshire. Some of these victims were scammed out of thousands of pounds for poorly-done building and roofing works. They were often targeted with cold calls or told a small job was going to lead to much more expensive work once building work had begun.
The fraud typically began with homeowners being cold called and approached about relatively small jobs, such as clearing gutters or replacing a roof tile. Once work began, they would be told that much more extensive and urgent repairs was needed. The criminal network deliberately targeted vulnerable people, including those who were older, isolated or living with ill health. One victim paid more than £94,000 for a job later valued at just over £3,000.
Hull Live previously reported on the sentences passed to seven of the members, who were all given custodial prison sentences or suspended sentences on September 15 at Teesside Crown Court. Now, seven more defendants were sentenced.
This includes Walter Farrow, 55, of Birch Close, Stokesley, North Yorkshire. He was sentenced to seven years and two months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to conspiracy to defraud, conspiracy to convert criminal property and two separate fraud offences.
Tyler McBride, 30, of Chaucer Road, Darlington, Durham was handed a six year prison sentence being convicted of conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to convert criminal property. Isaac Farrow, 31, of Sewerby Crescent, Stokesley, North Yorkshire will serve five years and four months in prison. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to convert criminal property.
Also sentenced that day were Michael Mather, 35, of HMP Northumberland (previously of Kingsbury Mews, Darlington) and Charlie Farrow, 37, of Hillfield Close, Seamer, North Yorkshire. Mather will now serve four years in prison and Charles Farrow will serve three years. Both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to convert criminal property. Sonja Edgar, 44, of Apple Tree Road, Stokesley, North Yorkshire was convicted of the same charge and sentenced to three years’ imprisonment suspended for three years.
Convicted in absence was 34-year-old Daniel Moody, whose whereabouts are unknown. He was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment after being convicted of conspiracy to convert criminal property following a trial.
The next day, Thursday 17 September saw a Teesside Crown Court judge pass a further eight sentences to people who were part of the same fraudulent crime ring.
- Shane Farrow, 33, of Birch Close, Stokesley, North Yorkshire was sentenced to six years and three months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to convert criminal property.
- Thomas Winter, 34, of HMP Northumberland (previously of Guisborough, North Yorkshire) was sentenced to 42 months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to conspiracy to convert criminal property.
- Ryan Watson, 27, of Darnton Drive, Middlesbrough was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment suspended for two years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to convert criminal property.
- Chelsea Bayliss, 24, of Allen Court, Stokesley, North Yorkshire was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment suspended for two years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to convert criminal property.
- James Hope, 37, of Gainford, Gateshead was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment suspended for two years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to convert criminal property.
- Nicole O’Brien, 36, of South Parkway, Seacroft, Leeds was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment suspended for two years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to convert criminal property.
- Serena Robertson, 25, of Hebron Road, Stokesley, North Yorkshire was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment suspended for two years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to convert criminal property.
- Ben Ware, 34, of York Road, Tadcaster, North Yorkshire was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment suspended for two years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to convert criminal property.
One further defendant, 31-year-old Michael Everton of Nightingale Croft, Rotherham, was sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court after pleading guilty to five counts of money laundering under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. He operated as part of the crime ring in the Sheffield area, receiving payments totalling £34,688 linked to rogue roofing and repair work on the homes of five victims.
Hull Live previously reported that, on September 15, Michael Olssen, 38, of Richmond Road, Hessle was given four years and 11 months in jail after pleading guilty to conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to convert criminal property at Teesside Crown Court.
The fraudsters included a husband and wife team who scammed victims then laundered their money using a network of bank accounts. Husband and wife Frederick and Carla Finney were sentenced to six years and nine months, and five years imprisonment, respectively. Frederick Finney, 48, of HMP Holme House (previously of Bickerton, West Yorkshire), pleaded guilty to conspiracy to convert criminal property and was described as one of the “conspiracy architects” by a Crown Court judge. His wife Carla Finney, 48, of Hillfield Close, Seamer, North Yorkshire , was described by prosecutors as a prolific money launderer, who operated 14 bank accounts through which £381,152 linked to the conspiracy was identified.
Also on September 15, North Lincolnshire man Christopher Morley, 36, was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment suspended for two years at Teesside Crown Court after pleading guilty to conspiracy to convert criminal property. Andrew Carty, 37, of Normanby, Scunthorpe, was sentenced to five years and four months imprisonment after pleading guilty to conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to convert criminal property.
Shannon Finney, 22, of Hillfield Close, Seamer, North Yorkshire was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment suspended for two years after being convicted of conspiracy to convert criminal property. Allan Smith, 36, of Gainford, Birtley, Gateshead was given a 12 month jail sentence, suspended for two years after pleading guilty to two fraud offences and converting criminal property.
Passing sentence at Teesside Crown Court, Judge Joanne Kidd said: “Money laundering is a disease that allows serious crime to take place.”
Lord Bichard, Chair of National Trading Standards, said: “These offenders deliberately targeted people who were isolated, unwell or grieving. They abused their trust and took life-changing sums of money, before trying to hide the proceeds through an extensive network of bank accounts. This was calculated criminality that caused serious financial and emotional harm.”
Did you know you can make Hull Live a preferred source of Hull news in Google, which will mean you get more of our breaking news, exclusives, and must-read stories straight away? Here’s more information about what this means and how to do it – you can also do it straight away by clicking here .