Cowboy builder, 32, is jailed for four years for charging clients for £268,000 of repairs they did not need
- Serial conman Michael Wall lured victims claiming ‘repairs’ would only be minor
- But once employed Wall, 32, of Hampshire, would artificially inflate prices
- He conned five victims across Hampshire and Berkshire out of at least £268,000 saying their houses would be in tatters if they didn’t pay for the work
- Wall pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud and was sentenced to four years
A cowboy builder has been jailed for four years charging clients more than £250,000 for unnecessary repairs.
Serial conman Michael Wall lured his victims by claiming only minor works were needed but once ‘repairs’ had begun, Wall, 32, of Tadley, Hampshire, would artificially crank up the cost and scale of the job.
But MailOnline cannot publish a photograph of the criminal because Hampshire Police say Hampshire Trading Standards requested Wall’s mugshot one day late.
The fear mongering fraudster fleeced at least five victims of £268,000 by telling them their homes – in Hampshire and West Berkshire – would be in tatters if the works were not completed.
This property had all of its plastic cladding, soffits and fascias replaced by Wall, who overcharged grossly for his services
A complaint from a victim sparked a year-long investigation into Wall – who traded as ‘First Choice Roofing’ – by Hampshire County Council and the Public Protection Partnership – a cross-council body in charge of fair trading.
Wall pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud and was sentenced to four years at Winchester Crown Court last Monday.
After the sentencing, Joint Public Protection Committee chair Councillor Hilary Cole, said: ‘This was a serious pattern of offending with five of the victims residing in the Public Protection Partnership area.
‘Crimes of this nature know no boundaries, and this was a very good example of trading standards officers working closely together across council boundaries to investigate and bring to justice a serial offender.
‘We are grateful to our colleagues from Hampshire County Council for their cooperation and support with this investigation and prosecution.’
County council chief Councillor Keith Mans, also praised the work of the trading standards officers to help bring about this conviction.
Additionally he charged to replace the felt under the tiles despite the work not being necessary
A complaint from a victim sparked a year-long investigation into Wall who was jailed last week
He said: ‘Our Trading Standards officers work tirelessly to protect residents from falling victim to illegal activities taking place in Hampshire communities.
‘This case is a prime example where the skill and expertise of the team – from the investigation through to the sentencing – has been highly commendable.
Cllr Mans also directed members of the public to the county’s Buy with Confidence scheme which provides a directory of ‘approved and insured’ tradespeople.