Bolton: Fraudster posed as tradesman to steal £10,000

James McCormack, 31, had already been on bail for driving offences when he stole a total of £10,150 from his 68-year-old victim from Bolton between September and December last year.

Bolton Crown Court heard how he came up with a series of excuses after receiving an initial upfront payment of £5,500 for delaying the work which was meant to start on September 29.

Niamh McGinty, prosecuting, said: “Following the death of the Queen that September, the defendant advised that there would be a delayed start date.”

He then claimed he would have to make further delays when he said he was in hospital with a broken ankle.

The case was heard at Bolton Crown Court (Image: Newsquest)

Ms McGinty told the court how by November, McCormack’s victim decided he wanted more work done and made a further payment of £4,650.

This time McCormack, of Chester Road, Knutsford, claimed that the war in Ukraine had inflated the cost of timber, but still he would not start work.

McCormack’s victim had had his boiler removed in anticipation of the work starting and went without hot water that winter.

Following his arrested, the fraudster admitted to police that he hadn’t started work and had used some of the original payment to buy a van but still claimed that he would eventually.

But when brought before Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court on April 20, McCormack pleaded guilty to fraud by misrepresentation.

Ms McGinty told the court this had had a profound impact on his victim, who felt “betrayed” by his actions.

She said: “He believed the defendant was a true and honest person but that he was cheated out of £10,000 by him.”

Not only this, but Ms McGinty explained that McCormack, who has 19 previous convictions for 58 offences, had already committed two driving offences, the first in Sheffield on August 9 2020 when he was caught driving a red BMW after attaching false plates with a fake driving licence.

The second was committed in Grimsby on September 16 of that year, when he was caught driving while banned and initially gave false details to the police.

McCormack pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and using a fake driving licence on the same occasion before the magistrates court that he admitted to his fraud offence.

Michael Lea, defending, argued that the best point that could be made in McCormack’s favour was his guilty pleas.

He told the court that he showed a “realistic prospect of rehabilitation” but was “realistic” about the likelihood that he would go to prison.

ALSO READ: Officials warn over scam airline vouchers as summer holidays begin

ALSO READ: Bolton housing association warns residents about bogus callers

ALSO READ: 'Lies told consistently' as fraudster claimed to be company manager

But the Honorary Recorder for Bolton Judge Martin Walsh reminded the court of the seriousness of the defendant’s actions.

Addressing McCormack, he said: “You effectively presented yourself as a reputable tradesman.”

He added: “You had no intention of doing that work.”

Judge Walsh sentenced McCormack to a total of 21 months in prison and banned him from the roads for a further three years, with an extra 10 and half months to take account for his time in custody.

As the case concluded, Judge Walsh said: “Sadly I can’t make a compensation order as there are no means to make payment.”