A CONMAN with an "appalling" criminal record defrauded a 70-year-old Chester woman out of thousands of pounds.

Alexander Emslie, 60, of Birch Muir, Chester, charged his victim nearly £16,000 for work at her home which a chartered surveyor assessed as £860.

Appearing at Chester Crown Court on Monday, December 6, Emslie – who changed his plea to guilty after the trial process had begun – was jailed for two years.

Prosecuting, Jemma Gordon said the victim, who had symtoms of dementia, was cold-called by someone claiming to carry out a series of remedial works on her home, including work on the roof and gutter.

The victim's daughter became concerned when she saw receipts for building work at her mother's address, with one receipt being a bill for £21,000. Banking statements showed her mother had made a number of withdrawals from the bank, and a total of £15,960 had been withdrawn over five weeks from July to August 2020.

Police were contacted and they began an investigation.

Neighbours reported a van which had been at the property and workmen had removed a lot of ivy from the front garden area – work which they said did not need to be done – and the ivy was fly-tipped in a nearby area.

The victim gave an interview where she said she had been taken to the bank by Emslie on a number of occasions to withdraw the money.

A chartered surveyor assessed the work done and what needed to be done. He said "a good portion of the required work did not need to be done" and, if it had been done, would have cost about £8,460, not the £15,960 the victim was charged.

However, only about £860 of work had been carried out.

The victim had £14,510 refunded to her by her bank.

Emslie, when caught, gave a 'no comment' interview.

In a victim impact statement, the pensioner said she had lost trust in strangers and the incident had caused her a lot of stress, and she felt very vulnerable being taken to the cashpoint, and she had been taken advantage of.

She said she was not trusting of anyone except her family and felt less secure in her own home.

Her daughter added the fact she had been taken to the cash machines during the pandemic had put her mother under needless safety risk.

Emslie had 55 previous convictions for 124 offences dating back to 1974. They included six fraud offences and 51 theft offences, as well as production of cannabis, violence, driving offences and breaches of orders.

Recorder of Chester His Honour Judge Steven Everett. Picture by Andrew Price / View Finder Pictures

Recorder of Chester His Honour Judge Steven Everett. Picture by Andrew Price / View Finder Pictures

Honorary Recorder of Chester Judge Steven Everett remarked there were "many burglaries", attempted robberies, obtaining property by deception, and handling stolen goods.

He added: "It is an appalling record, not one to be proud of."

Defending, Mark Le Brocq said there was very little in the way of mitigation, although the defendant had ultimately pleaded guilty.

Judge Everett said that, although the trial had not begun in front of a jury, it had already begun as the victim had given a pre-recorded interview and been cross-examined.

For Emslie's criminal record, there had been nothing for dishonesty since 2011.

Judge Everett said he noted the defendant's mother was in court, and said: "If that was your mother who was the victim, you would feel hugely affected by it.

"It just so happened the bank paid the money back but that was nothing to do with you or any of your associates, whoever they may be.

"It's the sort of offence which really causes the public to be outraged; a lady who has been hoodwinked by others into paying for work that wasn't done.

"It's a truly shameful thing to do. In her statement she has made it clear how she was suffering, and how dealing with strangers now makes her anxious. It left her feeling stupid, even though she knows she wasn't.

"This has been a truly awful case, and I would not be sending out the right message if I came to the conclusion of anything other than an immediate custodial term.

"You really took hold and dug your claws in and took that money."