'Advance Fee' Fraudster's £788K Scam Smashed

An online conman, who convinced victims all over the world to pay him a total of £788,000 in 'advance fees' for non-existant windfalls, will be senenced in the new year.

Patrick Bomboi Emuh, 54, (pictured) of Bromhedge, Greenwich snared twenty victims in the UK, USA, Germany, Romania, Chile, Australia and New Zealand.

After emailing and cold-calling them Emuh convinced the people they had a lottery win or had received an inheritance and neded to pay fees, taxes and handling charges to release the funds.

He also posed as a lawyer to supposedly help the victims claim the money – for an additional fee.

Some of the victims from abroad were talked into travelling to the UK, where they were met by people posing as businessmen.

Several were shown banks notes they were told were theirs, but were contaminated.

The victims were instructed to pay money up front in order for the cash to be cleaned to "legitimise" it – another ruse to extract more money from them.



The total sum of money Emuh took from his victims was £788,297.



Police began investigating Emuh in 2006 after they found him carrying £10,000 cash.

They seized the money under the Proceeds of Crime Act and financial investigators examined his bank accounts.

They found large sums of money being deposited into his account and officers were able to identify and contact some of the payees, all of whom told the same story about Emuh.

Confronted with this evidence, Emuh told police he had a diesel oil business and the victims were customers in Nigeria.

This was untrue and despite claims that he could provide evidence to prove his story, Emuh never did.

He was convicted of 19 counts of acquiring criminal property and will be sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on January 8.

Police have already seized £60,000 cash from Emuh and are now applying for a confiscation order from which victims will be compensated.



Accredited financial investigator Doug Ferns, of the Specialist and Economic Crime Command said: "Emuh tricked people into believing they had struck it lucky and when he was caught out he had the audacity to claim that the victims were in fact business customers.

“A thorough investigation of his bank accounts, mobile phones and computer combined with the many witness statements allowed us to see right through his story.



"People like Emuh are driven by greed and because of the potential pay off of a con like this they will go to unbelievable lengths to convince their victim that it is genuine, as Emuh did. 



"If a stranger contacts you saying you have inherited money or won a lottery and must pay fees to access your windfall, do not believe it. Call the police."



Happy Christmas!

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There are no news updates on this special day, there will be plenty of time for them in the coming months.

Instead we would like to convey our best wishes and thank you for your continued interest in this site over the last year

Hopefully we can maintain your interest in the coming months.

Merry Christmas!

Gunman Caged Over £500 Loan Row

A gunman, who shot another man who refused to lend him £500 as they sat in a parked car, is starting a fourteen year prison sentence.

Iziah Smith, 23, (pictured) of Jenner Road, Stoke Newington was siting in the rear of the vehicle when he pulled the trigger – shooting the front passenger seat under the armpit.

He was convicted at the Old Bailey of inflicting grievous bodily harm, with intent, outside his home address on April 26 and also convicted of possession of a firearm, with intent to endanger life.

The victim and his girlfriend had driven to Smith's home believing he was interested in buying some clothes for a holiday to Jamaica.

However, the defendant began agressively demanding the loan from the girlfriend and when the victim intervened he was shot.

He was driven to Homerton Hospital by his girlfriend, and was later transferred to the Royal London Hospital as his injuries were deemed life-threatening.

The victim has now recovered physically from his injuries but is still traumatised by the incident.


Detective Constable Simon Ager of the Trident Gang Crime Command North East Team, said: "This significant sentence sends out a clear message about the grave consequences of carrying and using a weapon.

“This was a complex investigation and has successfully led to the imprisonment of a dangerous offender.

Top Student Jailed After Accidentally Shooting Himself

A one-time 'Student of the Year' - who shot himself in the leg as he played around with a loaded gun while high on cannabis - is starting a three-and-a-half year prison sentence.

Jakob Kakala, 18, who received the award from ex-Croydon mayor Avril Slipper while studying at Shirley Park's Oasis Academy told a tissue of lies to police in a bid to avoid prosecution.

"I believe you shot yourself with it and you also had expandable ammunition, which is an aggravating feature," Croydon Crown Court (pictured) Judge Shani Barnes told him on Friday.

First-time offender Kakala, of High Street, Croydon pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing a firearm, namely a .22 Brocock gas cartridge revolver and possessing expanding ammunition, namely three cartridges on October 11.

He sought treatment at Croydon University Hospital for the bullet wound and police found the weapon and ammunition when they searched his address.

"He is exceptionally disappointed in himself," said Miss Brenda Campbell, defending. "This is not a young man used to dealing with the youth offending team.

"These last months in Feltham have been extremely hard and his requests for his college work to be brought in have been refused.

"He has tried to keep his head down while in there. He is not a member of any gang and is determined not to be a beacon of disappointment, but a beacon of hope."

Judge Barnes told Kakala: "A great number of people hold you in high esteem and you have earned their respect and admiration.

"On the one hand we have a thoughtful, articulate, kind young man, a joy to have in school and on the other a young man spending an evening drinking and smoking cannabis.

"What a thing for a young man of your intelligence and abilities to be involved with, someone who has worked so tirelessly in the community to involve yourself in something so grave.

"You know have two of the most serious convictions that you can have and it will be a burden that you will have to carry and something that will make you have to try harder."

Man Utd Away Fan Caught Hurling Seat

A Manchester United club member, who threw a seat towards stewards after his team scored during a nine-goal cup thriller, was fined yesterday.

Jobless Nicholas Garvey, 19, of Collingwood Street, Rochdale was caught on CCTV during the Capital One Cup fixture at Chelsea FC's Stamford Bridge stadium.

The ex-season ticket holder pleaded guilty at West London Magistrates' Court to throwing a missle onto a football playing area on October 31 and was fined £90, with £85 costs.

Chelsea beat Manchested United 4-3 after extra time.

Prosecutor Mr. Paul Mitchell told the court: “After Manchester United scored a goal a loose seat was thrown onto the pitch, near the stewards at pitchside.

“The defendant was identified by CCTV and he said: 'I did not rip it off, but I threw it'.”

The first-time offender told the court: “On that night I did the wrong thing by throwing the seat onto the pitch.

“I have let yhe club, the supporters, my family and myself down. It is one of the biggest regrets of my life.

“I try to go to away games when I can afford it and did go to most home games, but I got a letter from Man United asking me not to attend any home games and I have not been since.”

The police did not request a formal football banning order and Garvey was also ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge.

Greedy Carer Looted Vulnerable Client's Account

Greed: So-called 'carer' Subhiraz Sohun

A carer, who emptied the bank account of his middle-aged Down's syndrome client, who also suffers advanced dementia, dodged prison yesterday for his "despicable" crime.

Subhiraz Chandra Sohun, 51, (pictured) of Clensham Lane, Sutton withdrew a total of £2,460 and was sentenced to twelve months imprisonment, suspended for two years, and was ordered to perform 200 hours of community service work.

"What worries me is taking advantage of a vulnerable human being when you have a duty to take care of them and not rob them," announced Croydon Crown Court Recorder Andrew McCooey.

"The nature of the offence is so offensive . The victim was probably not aware of the offence because of their medical condition, but that makes them even more vulnerable."

Father-of-three Sohun pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position between March 27 and April 27, when he used cashpoint machines to make a total of eleven withdrawals from the bank account of 57 year-old Michael Patterson.

The defendant and his wife were paid £2,500 per month under Sutton Council's Shared Living Scheme, which places vulnerable adults into carers homes.

Sohun - known as 'Joe' - banked a total of £35,000 in council payments alone, but greedily stole extra cash top-ups.

"Along with his wife the defendant was the carer of Mr. Patterson and was paid by social services to take care of him," said prosecutor Miss Katherine Selby.

"He had access to his bank accounts and had his PIN so he could buy Mr. Patterson items.

"It was only because Mr. Patterson's sister raised concerns about her brother's finances that there was a police investigation."

When quizzed by officers Sohun admitted withdrawing the cash.

"He said he and his wife needed the money to fund his sister-in-law's divorce in Mauritius and said he had the intention to pay the money back."

Sohun, now unemployed, repaid the money in two instalments.

"Despicable is the word that comes to mind when someone has the benefit of looking after very vulnerable people and abuses that trust," Recorder McCooey told the first-time offender.

"You were the entrusted friend and carer of this person, who looked to you for help, and you took advantage by stealing. It is appalling.

"You now have not just a conviction, but a very horrible conviction that will stain your character for the rest of your life.

"You are extremely lucky you are not going inside. I have just about been persuaded to pass a suspended sentence.

Look after your children, set a good example. They would probably be as disgusted as I am."

Sohun was also ordered to pay £340 costs.

'Seat Rage' Commuter Loses Assault Appeal

A drunken financial advisor, who punched a fellow train passenger, leaving him permanently scarred after a 'seat rage' row, lost his £50,000 appeal today.

Angry Kevin Fowler, 46, (pic.top) picked-up and threw 39 year-old software account manager Adrian Farthing's laptop bag at him, prompting a confrontation on the late-night commuter service.

"It is always sad when two professional men wind up in an absurd dispute about a bag left on a seat in circumstances where it leads to violence," announced Croydon Crown Court Judge Timothy Stow QC.

"This was a ridiculous dispute. It should never have reached a point where there was physical contact.

"The defendant was positively drunk and was far more aggressive and we are quite satisfied he simply lost his temper when Mr. Farthing laughed at him.

"There is no way laughing mockingly can justify a physical attack.

"He punched him hard on the top of the head, forcing his face forward onto the tray in front of him."

Father-of-two Fowler, of Withdean Avenue, Goring-by-Sea, Worthing, who told the court he had spent £50,000 in legal fees fighting to clear his name, was previously convicted of assaulting Mr. Farthing on the London Bridge to Brighton service on August 4, last year.

When quizzed by police after a night in a cell he complained: "I'm a middle-aged, middle-class bloke standing up for the rights of rail travellers, who have a right to use a seat."

He sold his company after the conviction and is now employed as a management consultant.

"This gentleman came in, picked-up my laptop bag, and threw it at me," Mr. Farthing (pic.bottom) told the appeal. "An arrogant throw in my direction.

"He said he bought a ticket for the train and had every right to sit there.

"I asked him why he was being so vulgar and rude and he said: 'You'd better fucking shut up.'

"He was very slurred in his speech and appeared to be incredibly drunk.

"I had a laugh at him in a mocking way and I believe that inflamed him because the next thing that happened was that I received a blow to the top of my head.

"It was a very violent blow and forced my head down and I suffered a cut to my eye. I assume the cut was caused by the tray in front of me and it split the skin open an inch and a half.

"My coffee spilt all over my lap. At that point I was in a state of shock."

Mr. Farthing denied he was trying to protect his personal space on the crowded train by also pulling down the tray behind the seat next to him and placing his coffee on it.

The pair got off the train at East Croydon station and talked to police. "He was looking rather pleased with himself," said Mr. Farthing.

Fowler told the appeal he had approximately four to five pints after a training day in the City of London, but was not as drunk as witnesses described and claimed Mr. Farthing was the trouble-maker.

"He was condescending, patronising, sarcastic, passive aggressive," said Fowler. "He was playing games and he laughed at me."

Fowler admitted striking out in self-defence when Mr. Farthing made a sudden move towards him.

"I was just instinctively looking to protect myself. I was not looking for trouble, I was with colleagues and a long way from home, the last thing I needed was any hassle."

Fowler's sentence of a twelve month community order, including 200 hours community service work remains, along with an order to pay Mr. Farthing £1500 compensation and £550 magistrates' court costs and £500 appeal costs.

Snapper Caught With Sordid Images

A popular local award-winning wedding photographer confessed he had a fascination with underage girls when police raided his Mitcham home and seized twenty-six indecent videos and images.

Jeff Sham, 33, of New Road, who works all over London and the south-east had laptop downloads, which included adults having sex with girls under sixteen years-old, bondage and a child engaged in sexual activity with a dog.

He pleaded guilty to seven counts of making an indecent photograph of a child and possessing an indecent image of a child on or before May 22.

Sham is Surrey's only member of the professional Guild of Wedding Photographers.

Prosecutor Miss Shekinah Anson told Croydon Crown Court (pictured) twenty-two of the images were at level four; two at level three and and two at level five, the most extreme.

Officers executed a search warrant on May 22, seizing various items of computer equipment and media storage.

“He admitted entering chatrooms and said he had an interest in father daughter sex and engaged in role play,” explained Miss Anson today.

“He said while online in the chatrooms he was invited to visit and view other files and admitted downloading and saving some of them.”

The first-time offender was sentenced to six months' imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months, placed on a twelve-month probation order and was ordered to complete a sixty-day internet sex offender programme.

“It is a small number of images and there is no point sending him down for four weeks,” announced the Recorder of Croydon Warwick McKinnon. “He has got to sort himself out.”

The judge ordered police to return Sham's laptop, minus the indecent images.

“Even though he has this unfortunate trait it would be disproportionate for me to take away his life's work.”

Sham will have to sign the Sex Offenders Register for a period of seven years and was made subject to a Sexual Offenders Prevention Order restricting his physical and online contect with children.

Museum Expert Installed Secret Toilet Camera

A world-renowned paper conservation expert with the Victoria and Albert Museum installed a secret camera in a first-floor disabled toilet and kept a collection of women's clothes, wigs and make-up under his desk.

Michael Wheeler, 54, the award-winning Senior Paper Conservator at the V & A in Cromwell Road, South Kensington told police when interviewed: "I suffer from a sexual addiction. The recordings were for my own use."

Wheeler, who been at the museum for seventeen years and lectured all over the world, pleaded guilty on his first appearance to voyeurism on August 10 in that he installed equipment with intent to observe others doing a private act for his own sexual gratification.

He admitted a second voyeurism charge that on or before August 10 he recorded another person doing a private act for the purpose of his own sexual gratification.

Prosecutor Mr. Robert Simpson told West London Magistrates' Court yesterday: "On the first floor there is a disabled toilet used by both men and women.

"There was a lady using the facilities when she noticed a strange coat hook opposite the toilet bowl and alerted staff.

"It was a covert camera concealed within the hook."

The camera was examined and Wheeler was easily identified because he recorded himself.

"The defendant was recorded as the person putting it there at the time.

"It was explained to him that there would be a search of his workspace and Mr. Wheeler said: "The jiffy bag under my desk. That's all you need."

Another covert camera was inside the bag along with women's clothing, wigs, make-up and what Mr. Simpson described as "other items for sexual gratification."

The prosecutor added explained the defendant's memory stick were analysed.

"There were images of men and women using the lavatory. The one's of the men standing up are more explicit."

The magistrates bailed Wheeler for a pre sentence report to January 14 and the Chairwoman told him: "This is a very serious matter. It will be a hefty sentence one way or another.

"This is a very serious matter and there will be a substantial sentence for you."

Wheeler, who lives on a boat in South Dock Marina, Rope Street, Rotherhithe graduated from the University of Northumbria and specialises in Indian and Asian art on paper and architectural drawings.

He has lectured in Australia, New Zealand, Holland, Finland, India and Singapore and advised on projects in India and Egypt.

Wheeler was the head paper conservator at the Auckland City Art Gallery from 1987 and in 1990 was awarded the Andrew W Mellon fellowship at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art.

He is also an accredited member of the Institute of Conservation since 2000 and is a member of the professional accredtation committee.

Knight's Mobility Scooter Nicked

A boozy opportunist thief broke into Sir William Arbuthnot's car outside his exlusive West London home, taking a mobility scooter from the back of the vehicle.

Jobless Zowie Andrews, 37, of Berenger Walk, World's End Estate, West Brompton also snatched £2.00 cash.

He pleaded guilty at West London Magistrates' Court today to theft from Sir William's vehicle in Cathcart Road, West Brompton (pictured) on October 26.

Prosecutor Mr. Robert Simpson told the court the victim noticed the scooter had been taken from his car and it was recovered undamaged a few streets away.

Andrews left a pair of sunglasses inside the car and police matched his DNA, which they had on file, to them.

“He said he was drunk and as he passed the vehicle he saw the scooter and thought it might be worth something,” explained Mr. Simpson. “He said he was drunk and apologised.”

Andrews told the court: “I was having difficulties in my personal life, got drunk, and stupidly entered the vehicle.

“Two days later I saw a sign that it was a mobility scooter and made every effort to put it back.

“I'm sorry. It was stupid.”

Andrews was told by the magistrates: “It is very unfortunate that you were drunk that day and took someone's mobility scooter.

“There is no excuse really.”

He was fined £65, with £30 costs and was ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge.

Bungling Bank Fraud Blown

A nervous bank fraudster's clumsy attempt to loot an innocent customer's account of £4,800 alerted suspicious staff, who quickly raised the alarm.

Hove's Raymond Clark, 50, (pictured) made an appointment at a Bromley branch of Santander - giving notice that he was the account holder and wished to withdraw funds.

Croydon Crown Court heard Clark seemed nervous as he produced a driving licence and an American Express card as proof of identity.

Suspicious staff called the police and Clark tried to flee when he knew officers were on the way.

The defendant is currently on a community order imposed at Lewes Crown Court for drug-related offences.

He was placed on another twelve-month community order and told he must complete 100 hours of community service work.

Machete Man 'Flipped' And Slashed Houseguest

A machete-wielding New Addington man, high on a cocktail of booze and cocaine, who slashed a houseguest's hand and head during a violent row at his home, was spared prison yesterday.

Tarmacer Joseph March, 28, of Queen Elizabeth Drive “flipped” when a group of friends returned to his house after a drinking-session and started playing loud music.

“This was a completely horrifying incident and it must have been terrifying seeing someone brandishing this weapon with lots of people around,” Recorder Charles George QC told the first-time offender.

“Someone got slashed to the back of the head, which they needed stitiches for, and slashed to the hand, for which they also needed stitches.”

Father-of-two March pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to maliciously wounding Jack Thomas, causing him grievous bodily harm, at the address on September 15.

Prosecutor Miss Sue Obeney told the court: “The victim had gone to the pub and was in the company of the defendant and others and went back to the defendant's house.

“Things seemed to be okay until the victim heard a commotion upstairs, where the defendant was arguing with the victim's cousin.”

March admitted drinking approximately twelve to fourteen pints of lager, three whiskeys and taking half a gramme of cocaine.

The woman March was arguing with, Shelley Travers, was his girlfriend's sister and she slapped him across the face before he reached under his bed and produced the two-foot long machete.

“The defedant was swinging it and Mr. Thomas got in the way to prevent injury to his cousin and the blade struck his hand.

“The defendant started to push him and Shelley out of the house and the blade then also slashed the victim's head.”

Witnesses told police bare-chested March also armed himself with a heavy-duty spanner and held a glass of beer in the other hand, which he smashed in the front garden.

Shelley dialled 999, but also found herself being taken away by police for slapping March across the face again after he had been arrested and was in their custody.

March told the officers: “I admit I cut him up with the machete. I chopped him, I feel no remourse, it was self-defence. I tried to kill the c***.”

After the attack Mr. Thomas suffered sleepless nights and told police: “I feared further reprisals.”

He needed five stitches to his hand and complains of occassional numbness to his thumb and received eight stitches to the back of his head.

“This is a row that has escalated between him and his girlfriend's sister,” said Mr. David Bacup, defending. “There was an issue with money and he was upset about music blaring out of his house.”

Recorder George QC told March: “You flipped and took from under your bed a formidable knife. Your aim was to get everyone out of your house.

“This was a dreadful incident and the court has been remarkably generous to you.”

March received twelve months imprisonment, suspended for two years, was ordered to complete 250 hours community service work, an anger management course, pay £500 compensation to Mr. Thomas and £100 costs.

Insurance Fraudster's £7K I Phone Scam

An insurance fraudster, who created ten bogus identities in a £7,000 I Phone scam was spared jail today.

Shufahit Hussain, 23, of Back Chapel Street, Tottington, Bury, Lancashire was arrested despite smashing his laptop's hard drive with a hammer during a police raid.

He pleaded guilty at City of London Magistrates' Court (pictured) to ten charges of fraud by false representation between October 13 and 31, last year in relation to home insurance policies he created.

“This an allegation of fraud against Aviva and the creation of fraudulent policies, all in the name of Smith,” said prosecutor Mr. Manjit Mahal.

“The policies were taken out by phone on the first of October last year in the same surname.

“All the policies were opened using the same bank details and they relate back to Mr. Hussain.

Mr. Hussain, posing as a Mr. Smith on each occasion attempted to make claims for the loss of mobile phones, alledging he had lost them on the way to work.

The police were made aware and they discovered the person making all the calls was the same person, Mr. Hussain.

“On each occasion the person claiming to be Mr. Smith claims the phone was lost on the route to work and the loss had been reported to the police.”

West Yorkshire Police had eight crime numbers for the claims, however four of the references were for different items.

“As far as West Yorkshire Police were concerned the numbers came back not as I Phones, but other makes of phones.”

On April 25 Hussain was not at home when police raided his house, but found him at his brother's address in Burnley.

“Officers knocked on the door and there was a ten minute delay,” explained Mr. Mahal. “The officers were aware that a person was peering out of the window at them.

Police eventually gained access and searched a room the defendant used and slept in during visits.

“In his room was a Samsung laptop with the hard drive removed and destroyed.
“Hussain had used a metal hammer to destoy the hard drive.”

If the scam was successful Aviva would have lost £7,200.

“He has done something very similar in the past,” added Mr. Mahal, explaining Hussein was conditionally discharged by Blackburn Magistrates Court for deception in 2010.

He was sentenced to six weeks imprisonment, suspended for twelve months, ordered to perform 100 hours community service and pay £85 costs.

The New Battle Of Britain: Poland V Ireland

A Polish pastry chef, caught on CCTV reigning a dozen violent blows down on a vulnerable woman at the Battle of Britain memorial, has dodged prison.

Jakub Marchewka, 32, of Louis Road, Stratford inflicted an egg-sized swelling above the victim's left eye during the 2am attack.

He pleaded guilty to assaulting Irishwoman Catherine Sultan in Victoria Embankment, Westminster on May 28.

Prosecutor Mr. Manjit Mahal told City of London Magistrates' Court today the alarm was raised by nearby Ministry of Defence police, who reported a group assaulting a woman.

CCTV captured the moment a group surrounded Miss Sultan, who had her back against the memorial (pictured), and Marchewka, who was wearing a distinctive blue t-shirt, repeatedly punched her.

“A security guard told police he saw a group of males punching someone on the ground and he ran across the road with a colleague.

“They pulled two of the males off and saw that the person on the ground was a white female.”

The court viewed the CCTV footage, which showed the victim knocking a lit cigarette out of Marchewka's hand seconds before the assault.

The defendant claims he was striking the victim in an attempt to force her to release her grip on his girlfriend's hair.

“The victim is a lady that suffers mental health issues,” added Mr. Mahal. “She was not able to give evidence due to her mental state.”

Marchewka says he was socialising with friends when Miss Sultan approached them to ask where her brother was and a row erupted.

In a statement he admitted: “I accept that I punched her several times while she was on the ground.

“I accept that my knuckles were reddened and I had a small cut to my knuckle.”

His lawyer told the court: “He realises he acted excessively and went to far in protecting his girlfriend.”

Marchewka, employed by a Mayfair restaurant, was sentenced to eighteen weeks imprisonment, suspended for twelve months, ordered to complete 250 hours community service work, pay £200 compensation to Miss Sultan and £85 costs. 

Rogue Builder's Illegal Profits 'Washed' By Pal

A money launderer, who washed £31,000 through his bank account, which had been scammed from a pensioner by cowboy builders working on his suburban driveway, dodged prison with a suspended sentence yesterday.

Alan Hayton, 63, (pictured) of Portland Avenue, Sittingbourne paid a £17,000 cheque made out 'to cash' into his account and a second £14,000 cheque was blocked by suspicious bank staff.

The victim, John Devereux, of Belmont Road, Chislehurst, also paid another £8,000 cash to the builders, who have never been caught after his partner, who is recovering from a brain tumour, was preyed upon.

"You must have been aware there were vulnerable victims having money extracted from them by your friend," Croydon Crown Court Recorder Niall Quinn QC told Hayton. 

"They have been deprived of their entire life savings and the work was done in a contemptuous manner." 

Hayton was sentenced to eleven months imprisonment, suspended for two years, ordered to pay £500 compensation to Mr. Devereux and obey a night time curfew for three months.

The grandfather, who claims disability living allowance, will not have to contribute to the £7,750 costs requested by the opposition.

Hayton was convicted of acquiring criminal property, namely the two cheques between June 28 and July 14, last year, converting criminal property, namely the £17,000 cheque and attempting to convert criminal property, namely the £14,000 cheque.

Prosecutor Miss Rebecca Foulkes told the jury Mr. Devereux returned home to find his driveway being dug up after the builders had a conversation with his partner.

"She told him they had come around and knocked on the door and she had given permission to work on the drive and an Irishman, known as 'John' arrived later.

"The work continued and Mr. Devereux was asked for a cheque for seventeen thousand pounds and even though he was shocked by the amount, after a conversation he wrote a cheque, leaving the payee blank.

"That cheque went into the bank account of Mr. Hayton and Mr. Devereux then paid eight thousand pounds cash for a pipe to be laid under the driveway.

"A few days later Mr. Devereux was asked for more money for a trench and wrote out a cheque for fourteen thousand after first being asked for twenty thousand."

Again the cheque was paid into Hayton's account, but was blocked by the bank and trading standards alerted.

The determined cowboy builders even tried to persuade Mr. Devereux to make an electronic transfer payment, but fortunately this was unsuccessful.

"These sums were criminal property because they were obtained by fraud perpetuated on Mr. Devereux and his partner," added Miss Foulkes.

"They could see she was a vulnerable person and they took advantage and lied to Mr. Devereux about he cost of work to the driveway and the house.

"The work on the driveway was worth a small fraction of what was paid out and Mr. Hayton must have known or suspected these cheques were the proceeds of criminal property and allowed his account to be used."

Hayton claims he cashed the cheques for a man called Joe Joyce in return for a £24 crate of beer.

His lawyer Miss Francesca Levett told the court: "It is not a sophisticated attempt to defraud someone. It was very easily traced back to him.

"He was expecting a good drink in it for him, which he expected to be a few hundred pounds, but all he did get was a drink, that crate of beer.

"He is not a well man and Mr. Joyce preyed on the naivety of Mr. Hayton, who after the trial was admitted to Mayday Hospital after collapsing, which was brought about by stress."