Conman left people’s homes in state of ‘utter devastation’

A CONMAN falsely told people they were entitled to government grants for home improvements, but carried out the work himself and left customers’ homes in “ruins” and in a state of “utter devastation”, a court heard.

- BRYANA FRANCIS

Alan Pearson, 65, “lulled his victims into a false sense of security” over a six-month period between March and September 2018 by telling them they would receive discounted fees for external wall installation at their homes. He also put pressure on customers by telling them government grants were not available for long.

The court heard that the victims felt pressured into agreeing to the work, with Pearson even telling one person he had almost lost his job fighting for an additional grant and that they should therefore accept it and take him out for dinner to say thank you.

However, the work was never actually installed by government-approved contractors and all four of the victims had their homes left in an inferior state after the work was carried out. Each of the victims gave at least £2,000 to Pearson, with one victim sending £18,759.

Overall the cost to the four victims was £30,333.12, but the court heard the intended cost had been £51,471.75.