ROGUE traders who exploited vulnerable pensioners to live a “lavish lifestyle” have been ordered to pay back more than £50,000 to their victims.
Jack Harbour, 32 of Wellstye Green, Basildon and William Eastwood, 33 of Chelmsford Road, Wickford admitted four counts of fraud by false representation after an investigation revealed they had conned four victims out of tens of thousands of pounds.
Essex Police’s economic crime unit worked closely with Havering Trading Standards throughout the probe which began in 2019.
Enquiries revealed that work carried out was over-charged and substandard.
Eastwood was sentenced to three years and two months in prison on March 20 last year, while Harbour received a 14-month suspended sentence and was ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work.
Despite both men claiming that they had no assets, an investigation following their sentencings revealed that the available funds they had left from their criminal gains totalled £91,975.55.
A confiscation order to remove this money was applied for and ordered by the judge during a proceeds of crime hearing at Basildon Crown Court on Wednesday.
Jack Harbour must pay back £69,675.55 and William Eastwood must pay back £22,300. A total of £54,171.45 will be paid back as direct compensation to the victims.
Both men have been given three months to pay back.
Financial investigator Laura Mackenzie said: “Harbour and Eastwood thought they could exploit pensioners out of thousands of pounds and live a lavish lifestyle from their criminal activity.
“They conducted unnecessary and overpriced work and often intimidated victims into paying them. On some occasions, they even drove the victims to the bank so they could withdraw money.
“When the victims were informed that they would receive compensation they were delighted and said they never thought they would see a penny back.
“For Essex Police, getting justice often goes beyond the point of conviction and our proceeds of crime team will continue to make sure that no one makes a living from a career in crime.”
