Two men jailed and ordered to pay £320k for targeting elderly victims in Yorkshire driveway scam

Two men have been jailed and ordered to pay more than £320,000 for defrauding elderly victims, including vulnerable people in Yorkshire.
By Gemma Ryles
Published 21st Oct 2020, 06:00 BST

Riley Smith, 44, of Harrisons Walk in Kettering, Northamptonshire, and William Gaskin, 43, of Rose View Drive in Holbeach, Lincolnshire, were convicted in 2019 and sentenced to 45 months in prison today for conspiracy to defraud.

The two men targeted elderly victims and offered to lay their driveways but would perform substandard work, or in some cases, no work at all.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

They vastly overcharged for the work and were known to target the same victims repeatedly.

The two men targeted elderly victims and offered to lay their driveways but would perform substandard workThe two men targeted elderly victims and offered to lay their driveways but would perform substandard work
The two men targeted elderly victims and offered to lay their driveways but would perform substandard work

An investigation was launched by North Yorkshire Trading Standards with the The North East Regional Economic Crime Unit (RECU).

Smith and Gaskin were ordered to pay a total of £312,116.92 at Teeside Crown Court, with three identified victims repaid £89,321.47 in full.

Smith was ordered to pay £112,081.78 and Gaskin £200,035.14 within three months, or they will face additional consecutive sentences of 18 months and two years respectively.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The court heard that Smith’s total benefit was £1.9m and Gaskin’s £790.075.29 and if either is found to have further assets at a later date it could be taken from them.

Their debts will never go away until they are repaid in full.

Detective Inspector Mick Ryan of the Regional Economic Crime Unit (RECU), said: “This result is due to the close working relationship the Regional Economic Crime Unit has with our Trading Standard partners who secured these convictions.

"These rogue traders deliberately targeted the elderly and vulnerable, often leaving their victims in significant financial difficulties.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I am pleased that the careful work carried out by my investigators has ensured that in the majority of cases the victims will be fully compensated.

"This should serve as a strong deterrent to those who target senior citizens, as this case sends out a message that you will be prosecuted and we are committed to removing any financial gain from such appalling crimes."