Fraudster sent to jail after targeting homeowners
A fraudster, who conned Dudley borough homeowners out of thousands of pounds for work he never intended to do, has been handed a lengthy sentence behind bars.
Dudley Council’s Trading Standards team began investigating Kevin Bambrick in June 2021, after being contacted by victims who had been tricked into paying money for materials and services that were never provided.
Mr Bambrick, aged 36 and of 36 Borough Crescent in Oldbury, was operating as a sole trader under the name Kevin Bambrick Builders throughout.
On 3 January Wolverhampton Crown Court heard how Mr Bambrick conned eight households into paying large sums of money with many of the victims being elderly or vulnerable.
The defendant was invited into homes where he was sometimes abrasive with victims. The victims talked about the impact of the events, with one stating how they were left with their home in very poor state of order for months.
Mr Bamrbrick pleaded guilty to a single offence of participating in a fraudulent business carried on by a sole trader, contrary to section 9(1) of the Fraud Act 2006, and was sentenced to 34 months imprisonment.
When sentencing, the judge said the defendant had taken a course of conduct which was wholly dishonest from the start and had continued over a prolonged period, with active deception.
Councillor James Clinton, cabinet member responsible for trading standards, said:
“We have shown time and time again that we will not hesitate to take action against traders who fail to meet their legal requirements.
“This is a shocking case of shoddy workmanship and the man responsible now faces the consequences of his actions.
“I would like to thank our officers for their hard work on this case and I commend the bravery of the people affected for coming forward.”