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Man jailed for 16 months over fraud

Posted on Thursday 20th December 2018

A Newport man who defrauded a local woman of thousands of pounds – while on licence from prison for a similar offence - has been jailed.

Ronald Connors of Marshfield, Newport pleaded guilty to an offence of fraud when he appeared at Cardiff Crown Court on 30 October. He was sentenced on December 14.

The court heard Connors, trading as Barleystone Driveways, agreed to carry out work for an elderly single woman at her Newport home in March 2015.

He initially offered to do low value garden wall and driveway maintenance but this quickly escalated in other work including a new roof, quoting a price of £38,000.

Believing the work was necessary the resident agreed the price and work was carried out over the following few weeks.

However the constant demand for payments concerned the woman who then contacted Newport City Council’s Trading Standards but by then she had paid him £14,000.

The court heard that even after trading standards’ intervention Connors again visited the resident in July 2015 hoping she would pay more money.

During the visit Connors showed the resident the electronic tag he had on his leg - which he was wearing as he had recently been released from prison on licence for similar offences committed in Cardiff.

For this violation Connors was recalled to prison.

During the winter of 2015 the shoddily replaced roof leaked resulting in the resident having to pay a local roofer £3,200 to rectify the issues.

Connors appeared for sentence at Cardiff Crown Court on 14 December and was given a 16 months prison sentence. He was also ordered to pay £7,300 compensation to the victim and £5,000 costs.

Connors was also made the subject of a CRASBO (Criminal Anti-Social Behaviour Order) which will run until December 14 2028.

Under this order Connors must not approach or enter directly or indirectly any residential address occupied by someone who is or appears to be over the age of 50 in the United Kingdom whether on his own or on other’s behalf for the purpose of offering his own or others’ services for garden or building maintenance or any other business or work whatsoever.

Councillor Ray Truman, Newport City Council’s cabinet member for licensing and regulation warned residents about taking on doorstep callers claiming to be legal businesses.

“If anyone has any doubts as to the credentials of anyone offering to carry out work then please contact trading standards before handing over any money.

“The council does offer a Buy with Confidence scheme which means a firm has been through several thorough checks before being allowed on the register and users can be confident these firms and individuals are legitimate businesses.

“Officers always advise people to get several quotes too on jobs so you can be sure of a fair price for the work on offer,” said Cllr Truman.

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