Pensioner conned out of £120,000 in building scam
A bogus caller has been sentenced to over seven years’ imprisonment after duping a pensioner out of his life savings.
42-year-old Gary McCullagh of Havelock Close, W12, pleaded guilty at Harrow Green Crown Court of defrauding a 76-year-old out of more than £60,000.
McCullagh had visited the pensioner posing as a Customs and Excise officer. He claimed the 76-year-old had inadvertently become part of a VAT scam, following some building work to his home, and that he would have to pay nearly £5,000 if he was to avoid prison. The pensioner went on to hand over a total of £61,400.
The pensioner had already been conned out of thousands of pounds by a group of builders who had offered him a free roof survey at his Ponders End home. They went on to carry out a number of unnecessary and sub-standard building jobs costing £66,000.
McCullagh was caught when the victim reported the case to Enfield police. In April, officers from the borough's Major Crime Unit and Crime Squad arranged for McCullagh to collect a further £12,000 from the victim, but they were waiting for his visit and arrested him with a pile of fake banknotes.
He was charged with five offences of fraud and false representation and subsequently sentenced to seven years and six months in prison.
Detective Constable Jonathon Conner, who led the investigation from Edmonton police station, said: "This was a long and complex investigation where McCullagh deliberately targeted a vulnerable person to obtain his life savings. The victim was incredibly decent and trusting and believed for many months that a helpful member of the community was assisting him. We do not doubt that McCullagh had been working together with the bogus builders and that their deception meant the pensioner lost more than £120,000."
He added: "This case highlights the need for people to be wary of anyone approaching them in their own homes and offering free help. The message is that if you haven't invited anyone to call, or you suspect they are not genuine, do not hesitate to call 999 immediately."
16 July 2008
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