Sheffield conman scammed pensioner out of his life-savings

A Sheffield conman who scammed a vulnerable and poorly pensioner out of his life-savings has been jailed.
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Michael Collins browbeat the 68-year-old man into hiring him to do £35 of gardening work at his Station Road home, in July 2018.

His victim told him he didn't want any pointing done on the garden wall because he rented the property, but Collins returned two days later with two more men and carried out the work regardless.

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"He returned day after day for about a week and continued to do work that wasn't needed," prosecutor Zaiban Alam told Sheffield Crown Court, on Friday.

Sheffield Crown CourtSheffield Crown Court
Sheffield Crown Court

Collins forced the “confused and intimidated man” to withdraw large amounts of money from his bank, taking £10,700 in total.

Before leaving he retrieved a flier advertising M&A Premiere Tree and Garden Services, but his victim passed the details on to Trading Standards.

A chartered surveyor found that Collins’ work was "clumsy and unnecessary" and needed £180 to put right. When he was interviewed by police, he tried to claim his uncle was reponsible, the court heard.

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In a statement, the victim said: "I used to be a trusting person but that has changed. Now my door is locked all the time."

He was "very unwell at the time" and his judgment and insight were reduced. He was forced to claim benefits and had to moved into sheltered accommodation shortly afterwards.

Collins has previous convictions for burglary and was jailed for 30 months in 2016 after tricking his way into to a 79-year-old's home.

Matthew Burdon, mitigating, said Collins, a father-of-four, expressed remorse and regret.

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"There has been no further offending. He is at low risk of commiting further offences."

Collins, 47, of Elm Lane, Sheffield, pleaded guilty to participating in fraudulent business on the day of his trial.

Judge Roger Thomas QC praised the investigative work of Trading Standards who traced him through CCTV at a pizzeria.

"This used to be referred to as a "prop job,"" he said. "You took gross advantage of him. To say you should get some credit for stringing these proceedings out is somewhat rich."

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He sentenced Collins to 32 months in prison and banned him from operating a similar business.

Read the latest cases from Sheffield Crown Court here.

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