Reading Rogue Trader Jailed

28 June 2012, 15:17 | Updated: 28 June 2012, 15:24

A rogue trader from Berkshire who conned elderly and vulnerable people by taking money for work he never finished has been jailed.

Carl Davies from Trowes Lane in Reading was jailed after been foung guilty of five counts of fraud and four counts of theft. A jury at Reading Crown Court found him not guilty on June 27, 2012, of two counts of fraud and three counts of theft.

The court heard Davies made up to £115,000 by cold-calling residents in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and west London between 2008 and 2010.

The 41-year-old offered to complete building and landscaping work and then took the money up front. But he would then either finish the work to a poor standard of not complete it at all.

Davies was arrested in Surrey in September 2010 after a two-year investigation by police and Trading Standards.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Sarah Manning based in Loddon Valley, said on one occassion Davies stole money from a woman whose husband had recently died;

"He has made a living from being dishonest and taking money away from vulnerable people and has shown no remorse at any time during the investigation.

"He is now serving a prison sentence as a consequence of his actions and I hope this sentence acts as a warning to others that police are committed to tackling offences such as this, and will always seek to bring offenders to justice."