'Builder' scammed woman out of £14k

A FRAUDSTER builder took more than £14,000 from a vulnerable ‘profoundly deaf’ pensioner by repeatedly overcharg ing her and not completing work.

- BY JACK FIFIELD

John Drake, 47, of Heywood, admitted to nine counts of fraud by false representation against the ‘vulnerable’ woman while working on her house.

‘The court heard the woman, 66, had been ‘forced’ to withdraw cash up to three times a week to pay the dodgy builder a total of £14,945 - despite the fact he would often not even carry out any work.

‘The cowboy builder's crimes were exposed when his victim had been visiting her bank in Bolton in December 2018, and concerns were raised by the staff.

In a victim impact statement played to the court, the woman said she had been unable to buy new clothing and had not been on holiday for years because of the financial burden.

She said: “Sometimes | still have bad dreams, repeated, endlessly”