A third man has been sentenced in connection with 35 incidents where elderly people were accosted in the street, followed home and demanded money for work which had never been completed on their homes.
Working alongside his brother and father, Jesse Webb, aged 19 and 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.
Upon entering the victim’s house, they would also commit 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 October 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.
In total, it is believed they gained £15,000 from their crimes and officers are 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.
Jesse’s brother, 26 year old, Jimmy Chuter of Montrose Avenue, Datchet and his father, 51 year old Albert Webb of Loncin Mead Avenue, New Haw, Addlestone appeared at St Albans Crown Court on 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.
Jesse was arrested after a wanted appeal was issued by police after the sentencing in January. He appeared at St Albans Crown Court on March 2 and pleaded guilty. Today (April 1) he was sentenced to 12 months in prison.
Detective Constable Kieran Doyle from Operation Manhunt, said: “We were able to arrest his father and brother and bring them before the courts but Jesse evaded police so upon their sentencing, we issued a wanted appeal to trace Jesse. We received information which led us to him and I’m pleased that he has had his day in court.
“These really were shameful crimes and it’s beyond belief that they could stoop so low to pick out their victims and follow them home, and then make them believe they had carried out repairs to their house and harass them for money.
“In Operation Manhunt we will leave no stone unturned to identify these criminals and ensure they are taken off the streets so we can protect some of the most vulnerable in our community. I hope this sends a warning to others that no matter where you commit your crime, we will uncover the full extent of your criminality and track you down.”
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
Avon and Somerset offences:
Bristol – 2 September 2013
Westbury on Trym – 2 September 2013
Bristol – 3 September 2013
Bristol – 3 September 2013
Westbury on Trym – 11 November 2013
Bristol – 11 November 2013
Bristol – 11 November 2013
Bristol – 11 November 2013
Downend – 25 February 2014
Hampshire offences:
Portsmouth – 11 September 2013
Portsmouth – 2 October 2014
Portsmouth – 10 October 2013
Portsmouth – 15 October 2013
Portsmouth – 15 October 2014
Portsmouth – 15 October 2013
Portsmouth – 30 October 2013
Portsmouth – 19 November 2013
Portsmouth – 19 November 2013
Portsmouth – 19 November 2013
Thames Valley offences:
Oxford – 21 October 2013
Surrey offences:
Guildford – 11 September 2013
Leatherhead – 5 November 2013
