Home Local News Councillor slams conman jailed for targeting elderly resident

Councillor slams conman jailed for targeting elderly resident

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A man was yesterday (5 April) sentenced to 12 months imprisonment after pleading guilty to fraud offences at Liverpool Crown Court in a prosecution brought by St Helens Council Trading Standards.

Over a period of several months beginning in February 2014, Hugh Patrick McGinley, age 39 of Romley Street, Liverpool befriended and then conned his victim out of tens of thousands of pounds for building work which was either not completed or was of a very poor standard.

Overall the male victim paid around £105,000 for work to his home which was later valued by a construction expert to be worth no more than £25,000. What’s more, the quality of much of the work undertaken at the semi-detached house was so poor it cost thousands of pounds to put it back into the condition it was in before McGinley and his team started the so-called renovations.

St Helens Council’s Cabinet Member for Green, Smart and Sustainable Borough, Councillor Seve Gomez-Aspron said:

“This criminal behaviour is absolutely abhorrent, and I’m glad that our Trading Standards team’s prosecution led to a prison sentence. Let this serve as a stern warning that rogue trading will not be tolerated in our borough.

“It’s an unfortunate reminder of why people should never agree to work by anyone who knocks on their door. You should never feel pressured or intimated into purchasing a service by a trader – ask your friends or family to help research a reliable trader wherever possible, or consult our Trader Register.”

For reputable local tradesmen check out the council’s Trader Register scheme by going online to www.sthelens.gov.uk/traderregister or calling 01744 676304.

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