A father and son team who deliberately set out to con elderly people across the south of England have been sentenced.
26 year old, Jimmy Chuter of Montrose Avenue, Datchet and his father, 51 year old Albert Webb of The Paddocks, Lyne Road, Virginia Water, Surrey would travel far and wide looking for older people to target.
They would stop the victims, usually close to their homes, claim they had completed roofing work on their property and had returned to collect payment for the work. Often their victims, some of whom suffered from memory impairment through dementia or Alzheimer’s, would believe the pair. In some cases the victim would give them cash from their home or if they didn’t have cash, Chuter and Webb would drive the victim to their bank and get them to withdraw large sums of money.
On several occasions upon entering the victim’s house, they also committed a distraction burglary, distracting the victim whilst the other searched the house for more cash.
The complex investigation was led by Hertfordshire Constabulary’s specialist investigation team, Operation Manhunt, a unit set up to investigate distraction burglary, frauds and other crimes against the elderly.
The team linked a series of eight incidents in Hertfordshire, and then worked with other police forces to painstakingly piece together further offences. In total they uncovered 35 offences committed between February 2012 and February 2014 in Hertfordshire, Avon & Somerset, Hampshire, Oxford and Surrey.
The majority of victims were women aged in their 80s and 90s. The oldest victim was a 97 year old man.
Chuter and Webb appeared at St Albans Crown Court on Friday (January 21) and pleaded guilty.
Chuter was sentenced to four years for conspiracy to defraud. Webb was sentenced to 3½ years for conspiracy to burgle, conspiracy to defraud and a stand-alone charge of fraud for a historic matter. This sentence will run consecutive to a sentence of 3½ years received in December 2014 at Worcester Crown court for similar offences committed whilst on bail.
In total, it is believed they gained £15,000 from their crimes and officers are now starting proceedings to confiscate their criminal gains under the Proceeds of Crime Act. The vehicle used during the crimes, a silver Mercedes C200, has already been confiscated by police.
A third man is wanted in connection with the series of crimes. Jessie Webb, aged 19 and of The Paddocks, Lyne Road, Virginia Water, Surrey is believed to be in the areas of Surrey and London.
If anyone knows of Webb’s whereabouts or believe they have seen him, they are asked to contact Herts Police immediately via the non-emergency number 101. Alternatively people can report information anonymously through Crimestoppers, the independent charity, on 0800 555 111.
Detective Constable Kieran Doyle from Operation Manhunt, said: “This pair showed absolutely no regard for their victims, some of whom they would follow from local shopping centres. They particularly preyed on older people who may be more easily confused into believing work had been done to their property.
“Their behaviour really is the lowest of the low but through the sheer determination of the Operation Manhunt team, who are specialists in this type of criminal activity, they soon had their comeuppance. And when they faced their day in court the evidence against them was so strong them had no choice but to plead guilty, saving their victims the trauma of having to give evidence against them in court.
“I am pleased that the judge saw the seriousness of their behaviour and has handed down substantial sentences.”
Detective Inspector Ben Wright who leads Operation Manhunt said: “My team of detectives left no stone unturned in the pursuit for identifying these men. I’d take this opportunity to advise those who travel to Hertfordshire to target the elderly that they will be ruthlessly pursued and the full extent of their criminality investigated.”
Hertfordshire Offences:
Potters Bar – 24 September 2013 – 87 year old woman
Berkhamsted – 26 September 2013 – 84 year old woman
Tring – 26 September 2013 – 83 year old woman
Tring – 26 September 2013 – 87 year old woman
Hemel Hempstead– 26 September 2013 – 87 year old woman
Waltham Cross – 15 November – 84 year old woman
Cheshunt – 20 November 2013 – 76 year old woman
Watford – 13 February 2012 and 4 February 2013 – 81 year old man
