Fraudster has unduly lenient sentence increased
A fraudster has had his sentence increased following intervention by the then Solicitor General, 皇冠体育app Rt Hon Lucy Frazer QC MP.
A fraudster has had his sentence increased following intervention by the then Solicitor General, 皇冠体育app Rt Hon Lucy Frazer QC MP.
In February 2020, Michael O鈥橬eill, 28, worked with a group of people to target the victim. 皇冠体育app group pretended to be builders and demanded payment for vital works that needed to be carried out on the victim鈥檚 property. 皇冠体育app victim initially paid 拢2,000, but grew suspicious and refused to pay when he was asked for more money.
皇冠体育app group further deceived the victim, informing him that charges had been brought against the builders and that he could receive compensation if he paid some additional money. 皇冠体育app victim gave a cheque for 拢15,000 to the offender for this. On another occasion the offender accompanied the victim to withdraw a further sum of 拢75,000, however when this transaction did not clear, the police were called and the offender was arrested at the scene.
O鈥橬eill pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation. On 14 July O鈥橬eill was sentenced to 21 months鈥� imprisonment suspended for 24 months at Inner London Crown Court.
Following a referral to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme by the Solicitor General, on 24 September the Court found the sentence to be unduly lenient and increased it to 3 years鈥� and 1 month imprisonment.
After the hearing at the Court of Appeal, the Solicitor General, Alex Chalk QC MP, said: 鈥淭his was a sustained and thoroughly dishonest scam designed to manipulate a particularly vulnerable victim. I welcome the Court of Appeal鈥檚 decision today to increase the sentence. Let it serve as a deterrent to others thinking of carrying out similarly cruel crimes.鈥�