Conman swindled thousands from trusting couple

A "BLATANTLY dishonest conman" has avoided prison "by the skin of his teeth" after swindling a couple who thought they were going into business together out of thousands of pounds, a court heard.

- ROB HARRIES

Businessman Andrew James convinced Christopher and Jocelyn Richards to set up a business with him which would see them take over a Spar shop in the centre of Carmarthen.

The couple were led to believe they would be partners that would be investing the same amount into the company as James.

After James, 58, became friendly with the couple when he was working in another Carmarthen shop, he told them in August, 2018, he was in the process of taking over the Spar shop in the town’s Lammas Street.

According to prosecution barrister Georgia Donohue, James told Mr and Mrs Richards he was intending to buy the Spar store for a sum of £160,000, made up of £80,000 of his money and the rest from a Welsh Government grant.

However, he then asked Mr Richards if he would be interested in entering into a partnership whereby both would own 50% of the company, while Mrs Richards would earn an income from working at the shop.

James, of Station Road, Ystradgynlais, told the couple that the £160,000 would be broken down into £140,000 for the business itself and a further £20,000 as a business “float”.