Middlewich con man jailed for posing as builder to extort victims

Sean Clegg, of Chadwick Road, Middlewich, visited caravan sites with his accomplice Stephen Powell to cold call the elderly in their homes.

After offering to inspect homes, the pair would often invent faults and convince the owners to have unnecessary work done.

Clegg, 39, and Powell, 44, then overcharged for their substandard work, which often needed remedying, costing the victims more money.

The offences related to five victims in Telford, Frodsham, Mancot and Eston in 2021. The loss to the victims was a combined total of £57,074.33.

Away from posing as a builder, Clegg also offered to hire out marquees, which either didn't materialise or were missing parts.

Following a police investigation, the pair were arrested and charged with multiple counts of fraud by false representation.

Sean Clegg (Image: Cheshire Police)

On February 19 earlier this year, Clegg, formerly of Winsford, admitted to four counts of fraud by false representation and two of money laundering.

He had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of dishonestly making false representations to make a gain in relation to the marquee hire scheme.

Powell, of HMP Risley in Warrington, admitted five counts of fraud by false representation on October 23 last year.

The pair returned to Chester Crown Court on April 9 where Clegg was jailed for 40 months and subjected to a 99-year criminal behaviour order.

As part of this order, Clegg must notify police of any business interests he has, is banned from entering caravan parks, and is banned from cold calling.

For his part in the scheme, Powell was jailed for 18 months.

Stephen Powell (Image: Cheshire Police)

DC Carl Davis said: "Clegg passed himself off as a builder, without having any training or qualifications. He would advertise on websites for park home renovations and later general building work.

"He would offer quotes for various projects and on some occasions he would begin the project but as it continued, he would use various excuses to try and extort more money from the victims.

"He would then reduce his visits using more excuses, including that he had cancer and even his father dying.

"These men were unscrupulous and did not care that they were taking so much money off elderly victims.

"Clegg and Powell are now paying for their crimes and I hope this, in some small way, gives the victims some form of justice.”