A rogue builder who scammed his elderly customers out of more than £500,000 has been ordered to pay back nearly £133,500 to his victims or face a further three years in jail. Alan Lee undertook a lengthy campaign of targeting vulnerable people around south Wales, carrying out unnecessary work which often left their homes in an unsafe state.
He also bullied his victims into paying his exorbitant fees, in one instance telling someone who queried their bill: "I know where you live." The 49-year-old of Wentloog Road in Rumney carried out his spree of deception between September 2018 and December 2020, during which time he visited properties in Roath, Barry, Ely, Thornhill, Llanishen and Newport.
Described during his trial at Cardiff Crown Court in December 2021 as a "persistent, dishonest, aggressive and intimidating person," Lee pleaded guilty to defrauding 24 people of £556,000 and was originally sent to prison for six years and ten months. But earlier this week a Proceeds of Crime Hearing heard that the conman has £133,486 in assets, £100,000 of which he himself admitted had been hidden.
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Also taking place at Cardiff Crown Court, the hearing on Wednesday April 26 saw a full confiscation order granted by Judge Jeremy Jenkins which will give each of Lee’s 24 victims a 30% share for every £1 that they lost. Furthermore, if that payment isn't made in full within three months Lee will have a further three years'imprisonment added to his existing sentence.
Cllr Dan De’Ath, Cabinet Member responsible for Shared Regulatory Services at Cardiff Council said: "Alan Lee claims to be a builder, but he is a dishonest conman who targets elderly, vulnerable and disabled people out of a lot of money. He has been offending for years and often mocked our trading standards officers that were investigating him.
"He thought he was above the law, but he is still in prison for the crimes that he has committed. Now, we have gone after his assets, and it isn’t surprising that he tried to hide £100,000 from the authorities.
"So, when he gets out of prison, he will have no money and we will be monitoring any work that he does. That way we can take appropriate action if he re-offends."
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