Crime gang to be sentenced for conning elderly people across Surrey, Kent and in London (From Redhill And Reigate Life)

Crime gang to be sentenced for conning elderly people across Surrey, Kent and in London

1:28pm Friday 25th January 2013 in News

Six people, including two men from Horley and Redhill, and a woman from Merstham, are due to be sentenced next month for their part in conning elderly people out of tens of thousands of pounds.

The six, who Surrey Police described as an “organised crime group,” carried out their cons on elderly residents across Surrey and Kent, and in London.

The police investigation followed a string of reports involving elderly victims from areas including Reigate, Whyteleafe, Oxted, Coulsdon, and Sevenoaks in Kent.

The elderly residents had been deceived into believing large scale building work was needed on their homes.

But Surrey Police said that the gang had obtained around £100,000 from their victims with little or no work being carried out.

The Force's Cross Border Investigation Team worked closely with the Reigate and Banstead Safer Neighbourhood Team and Surrey County Council Surrey Trading Standards Service to track down the six.

All of them are due to appear at Guildford Crown Court on Thursday, February 14, for sentencing.

Paul Sanderson, 41, of Sarel Way, Horley, was found guilty at Guildford Crown Court on Tuesday, January 15, of conspiracy to commit fraud by making false representations. The four other men and one woman had already pleaded guilty to their part in the scam, and had had their sentencing adjourned until the conclusion of Sanderson's trial.

Emma Stevenson, 33, of Brook Road, Merstham, had pleaded guilty to converting criminal property, and Albert Eastwood, 39, of Denton Close, Redhill, his brother John Eastwood, 42, of Ermyn Close, Leatherhead, and a 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud by making false representations.

A Surrey Police spokesman said a warrant has been issued for the arrest of the sixth gang member, David Sanderson, 39, of Brook Road, Merstham.

He had previously pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to convert criminal property, but failed to attend court as required on January 7.