Trio walks from court

Deborah Linton

December 17, 2007

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Trevor Chandler

Trevor Chandler 1/3 Play Slideshow

A TRIO who handled almost £90,000 in cheques swindled from the life savings of a 90-year-old woman has walked free.

The pensioner was bled dry by a gang of rogues who systematically tricked her out of her £190,000 savings after carrying out work on the driveway at her Wythenshawe home.

Trevor Chandler, 46, from Nottingham and Josephine Doherty, 64, who lives on a caravan site in Stoke-on-Trent, were last month found guilty of laundering £25,000 and £58,000 of the con cash respectively through their bank accounts - but escaped jail after receiving suspended prison sentences at Manchester Crown Court this morning.

Patrick Ward, 21, also from Nottingham, pleaded guilty to a money laundering charge earlier this year, after receiving a £2,500 share of the proceeds, but walked away from court today with an 18 month supervision order.

The three were not responsible for carrying out the con and both Chandler and Doherty were cleared of conspiracy charges last month,

Judge Andrew Blake was told. Ward's mobile phone number was the same number on a flyer for building products that was found in the victim's home and had been used to contact her.

The pensioner was left feeling foolish and embarrassed and her previous high levels of confidence had been knocked, the court heard.

She handed over cheques and cash totalling £185,000 for the work - which cost just £12,000. The conmen swindled the "enormous sum of money" from her as they fed her audacious stories that the job was botched and it would cost extra to correct it and that she had been overcharged by the paving company but owed them money because they had made out excessive repayment cheques to her.

Scam

The scam, which began in late 2005, was detected when building society bosses became suspicious about the vast sums of money - up to £96,000 a time - being withdrawn from her account and alerted police.

Judge Blake, sentencing Chandler, said: "You didn't know the details of what was going on in Wythenshawe. You were idiotic enough to take a chance - and I've no doubt you received a fee for this - to launder £25,000 through you bank account. It's a significant sum."

He told Doherty: "I have had to think long and hard as to whether you should serve a prison sentence. I've come to the conclusion that sending you to prison would serve no purpose at all."

Chandler was given a six month sentence, suspended for 18 months and ordered to carry out 60 hours unpaid work. Doherty was given a nine month sentence suspended for two years but was not required to carry out unpaid work due to bad health, the judge said. The two will be the subjects of a proceeds of crime hearing in March.

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Broadway-Tony (17/12/2007 at 15:04)

They should have had a prison sentence what sort of message does this send out. Does anyone go under lock and key these days. Did the victim get her money back?

Sid (17/12/2007 at 15:59)

Because it was not violence I imagine the judge was under instructions not to send them to prison. Our justice system has just gone mad, who ever said crime does not pay must be bonkers.

benjidog, Manchester (17/12/2007 at 16:38)

Oh My God!!! Are any of these horrible people paying any money back!! What kind of a message does this send out to people? The judge should be ashamed of himself

Batfink, Manchester (17/12/2007 at 16:39)

Clearly crime does pay. Never mind violence, these scum should be locked up.

BluePolarBear, ex of Stockport (17/12/2007 at 16:50)

In fairness to the government,judges don't always act according to central govt wishes,and have some impartiality,it would be very dangerous if they didn't.We also have our highest ever prison population,and the highest in Western Europe.We need to build more though,and end the revolving door situation where released,non-rehabilitated prisoners keep going back to jail.Being locked in a cell all day,is not going to re-educate people,or help society to reform them.
As for this trio,the judge is out of order in my opinion,crimes like this are low,this was an act of bullying on a vulnerable person.It seems grossly unjust that a custodial sentence has not been handed down,to these professional con-men,who are now at liberty to carry on with their anti-social habits?At least in jail,they were away from the public..although its still possible to order and organise crimes from there.I feel sorry for the woman who was defrauded,and doesn't see any justice in this case.

El Mac, Manchester (17/12/2007 at 16:56)

This just beggars belief ... If we were looking at a fine upstanding institution such as HMRC, they'd be doing a minimum of 5 years each ...

Yet another case of the justice divide.

Alkringtonian, Middleton (17/12/2007 at 19:12)

Proof that the justice system is a joke.

adders, Withington (17/12/2007 at 20:20)

Well, the law really IS an ass when creeps like this can prey upon our senior citizens.
I am sick of hearing about a clampdown on crime when we are forced to live in a sick society where the weakest get no protection.
The courts need courses in common sense, get out of their dusty lawbooks and try living in the real world for once.
No wonder the police get sick of arresting criminals only for the courts to release them.
Of course, the rich have security. The rest of us...tough luck.

Timberman, MANCHESTER (17/12/2007 at 20:54)

I hope the pensioner has had the money refunded. These people should be made to wait on this lady hand and foot for what years she has left.
The sentence is stupid, the law is an ASS.
BEST WISHES TO THE LADY.

jonah, usa (17/12/2007 at 21:43)

For Gods sake BUILD SOME PRISONS! This mushy-mouthed so called judge should be taken outside and flogged.

mauger 9, HANNOVER GERMANY (18/12/2007 at 07:33)

Yet another slap in the face!For all decent Citizens.

gillykins, urmston (18/12/2007 at 08:01)

The trio should have been made to pay ALL the money back to the lady and each serve a custodial sentence. This is no punishment at all. 60hrs unpaid work? I know people who have jobs and do that amount in unpaid overtime over a couple of weeks. I wish these Judges would get themselves a touch of common sense, he really didnt thaink that long and hard about prison - it should have been a no brainer!

Pete (18/12/2007 at 08:16)

"He told Doherty: "I have had to think long and hard as to whether you should serve a prison sentence. I've come to the conclusion that sending you to prison would serve no purpose at all.""

Yes it would - it is called justice - judges would do well to remember that. Part of the process is for justice to be seen to be done which this clearly does not. I think this judge should explain face to face with the victim why she is less important in this case than the two scum that he found to be implicated in this crime.

Warning to others - there are many drive companies about at the moment - check addresses (use some common sense - is it likely that the trader who called is based at the adress given - e.g door to door flyers (often photo copies) or salesmen, in the Sale area for example, for a company based in Birmingham or Cardif with no NW base)and dont use companies only using mobile phone numbers or call centres - the numbers are easy to spot.

dessie, manchester (18/12/2007 at 09:29)

LIVING IN BRITAIN IS AN EASY TICKET YOU CANT GET LOCKED UP, YOU GET BENFITS AND FREEBIES, BYE BYE LABOUR GOVERNMENT YOUVE DO AN EVEN WORSE JOB THAN THE TORIES!!!!!

tricia jonson (18/12/2007 at 09:53)

Poor elderly lady - they should have all been locked up or at least passed over to her relatives. This is scandalous that they walk away typical ryuddy court system, think how the police and the CPS feel after all their work for the Judge to say off you go naughty people, think about what you have done and dont do it again, bet they laughed all the way home.

freethinker, ex-Manchester (18/12/2007 at 10:20)

If the judge really believes that "sending you to prison would serve no purpose at all" then he must send no-one to prison. These criminals are as bad as thugs, preying on old, vulnerable people, and they should be punished. They, along with other criminals, must be laughing at judges and our inadequate penal system.

These criminals should not only be locked up, but there should be work available in prison at minimum wage so that they can pay back money to their victim.

Salford Ken, South Australia (18/12/2007 at 10:48)

Thank you your honour. I was not sure if crime does or doesn't pay.

You have made it quiet clear that it does.

now all I need is a list of judges, their addresses and what times they will be in court.

Now that is not asking much of such kind hearted and caring people is it.

Jimc (18/12/2007 at 12:29)

So let me get this straight in my mind, 3 people can fleece a 90 year old women out of her life savings and walk free from court with a slap on the wrist.

An armed robber can rob a security van of £20,000 get caught and get 10 years, because he will have used violence or a weapon.

What about the violence of the mind what this poor victim will have suffered.

The CPS needs to review the sentencing in this case and send these 3 to jail.

Charlie S (18/12/2007 at 13:34)

the sad thing is, freethinker, that they do get paid for work in prison, but for some reason the system think it is just to let them put it in their own pockets instead of paying it to the victims - pathetic.

jonah, usa (18/12/2007 at 23:43)

Perhaps a panel of judges would get better than an individual. Clearly and I mean clearly the public are totally dissatisfied with the present system.

alvinlwh (20/12/2007 at 10:12)

They are set free so there are space to jail drivers on the phone.

Pescado (20/12/2007 at 17:47)

Thing would have been different had the victim been a relative of his honour me thinks.
I hope these scumbags use a mobile and drive at the same time because the courts will jail them for that crime.

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