A 29-year-old man has been given a two-year suspended prison sentence at Swindon Crown Court for defrauding an 85-year-old woman in Swindon, Wiltshire. Michael Connors was sentenced on February 20, 2026, after he used dishonest tactics to trick the pensioner into paying for unnecessary and poor-quality building work.
Operating under the business name Perennial Home Improvements Limited, Connors falsely claimed the victim’s home had a rat infestation and significant roof damage. He managed to take £6,000 in cash from the woman and attempted to cash a further £20,000 cheque before her family stepped in to stop the payment.
According to Swindon Borough Council, Connors also used the Checkatrade logo on his marketing materials despite being removed from the trade scheme a year earlier. An expert witness from TR Davies Ltd described the standard of the roof work as abysmal and found no evidence of rodents or water leaks.
The victim, named as Sheila, was left with a £12,000 bill to fix the damage caused by the unnecessary and substandard repairs. At the sentencing, the court ordered Connors to pay £18,800 in compensation to the victim and £6,000 in legal costs.
Cllr Jim Grant from the council praised the bravery of the victim and her family for coming forward to help with the case. Officials say this prosecution shows that local courts are taking action against doorstep fraud to protect vulnerable residents.
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