Cowboy builder conned Vale victim - The Evesham Observer

Cowboy builder conned Vale victim

Evesham Editorial 16th May, 2014 Updated: 20th Oct, 2016   0

A COWBOY builder who conned his way to hundreds of thousands of pounds has been ordered to hand over his entire assets.

Sidney Fletcher, of Bidford on Avon, was ordered by a judge at Warwick Crown Court to forfeit assets of £275,000 within six months or face three years in prison after committing the offences, which included on Evesham residents.

The judge also ordered the money should compensate victims from nine fraud charges he was jailed for in June 2012.

The 42-year-old worked as a bogus builder and roofer between 2008 and 2012, where he targeted the elderly and vulnerable in




Warwickshire, Worcestershire and the West Midlands, conning them out of £404,605.

Application for the successful confiscation order was made by the Financial Investigation Unit of Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police following an investigation stretching back almost four years.


Bob Turner, financial investigator with the two forces, said: “Fletcher was a rogue trader who lived a criminal lifestyle.

“He preyed on elderly or otherwise vulnerable victims, invariably taking money up front for work which was never done, or if done at all, was carried out to an appalling standard or for an extortionate price.

“Throughout this major case, our focus was on the victims and recovering as much money as possible on their behalf.

“This should serve as a lesson to career criminals the joint Warwickshire/West Mercia Police economic crime unit will

relentlessly pursue those who prey on the old and vulnerable, stripping them of their assets whenever possible.”

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