A criminal who persuaded a pensioner to leave his home to a suspected associate has been jailed.
After pleading guilty to two charges of fraud by false representation, Robert Vincent was sentenced to five years and three months on 3 August.
Following a report from Bromley Trading Standards, an investigation into Vincent began in June earlier this year, which found that he had approached the home of a 68-year-old man, telling him that his roof needed replacing.
Going under the name Terry Griffiths, Vincent received cash and cheques from the victim in exchange for the repair work; this amounted to over £14,000.
After stating that he could not afford to pay for the repairs, Vincent stated that instead, the value of his home – approximately £540,000 – would cover the cost.
The pensioner unwillingly agreed to leave his home to Vincent, instructing a solicitor to draft a new will with the sole receiver as Terry Griffiths.
Vincent then stated that instead, the house should be left to someone else, who the police believe is an associate of Vincent.
During a follow-up call regarding a previous building scam, the victim mentioned that he was currently having work done on his home.
A Trading Standards Officer was sent round, and upon discovering that no work had been done, he swiftly informed the police.
Whilst Vincent was arrested, the individual named on the will denied he knew Vincent, telling police that he had no knowledge of the fraud.
Commenting on the case was Detective Constable Alex Falconer from the Met’s Falcon unit. He stated: “This was a deceitful crime in which Vincent tricked an elderly man into changing his will after charging him £14,000 for non-existent repairs to his roof.
“A swift police investigation established that Vincent had been using a pseudonym in his dealings with the victim and provided a name of his suspected associate.”
