A rogue trader who targeted an elderly couple and the went on the run for two years has been jailed – four years after committing the offence.
Robert Christopher Hughes pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud in relation to a ‘botched’ driveway he installed whilst operating the business Newstone Driveways and Patios.
The 32-year-old took £8,250 from this Swindon victims for work that included a replacement drive and a patio.
A surveyor’s inspection of the work carried out at the victim’s address following Hughes’ botched job, concluded that the value of the driveway built was nil.
The surveyor also found that the driveway had been incorrectly built above the level of the property’s damp proof course and that the driveway will need to be completely rebuilt as a result.
Hughes was brought before Swindon Magistrates’ Court in May 2021, but was released on bail ahead of a hearing in the crown court. He proceeded to evade justice for two further years.
At Swindon Crown Court on Wednesday, Judge Jason Taylor KC told the defendant: “A bench warrant was initially issued and when executed, the magistrates’ court inextricably granted you bail… you have now been outstanding, on the run, for some time.
“We are now four years post-offence – and two years and three months of that are solely down to you.
“It was even listed for sentence on 23 November, when defence counsel attended but you refused to attend because you said you had work commitments that you and to fulfil.
“Your arrogance and sense of entitlement is breathtaking.”
Judge Taylor jailed Hughes, of New Acres, Cranleigh, Surrey, for three years in relation to the fraud, adding an additional four months for the offences of failing to surrender to court.
He added: “You are a serial offender and you have track record of persistent dishonesty involving elderly and or vulnerable people.
“Once the opportunity presented itself to you, you preyed on [the couple] in a calculated and targeted manner. As the prosecution put it, you were at it again with another elderly person and you knew how to do it.”
The court heard that Hughes has numerous previous convictions for defrauding vulnerable victims, and previously served a four-year prison sentence for similar crimes.
Councillor Jim Grant, Swindon Borough’s Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Joint Working, said: “Robert Hughes is clearly a conman who has continued to defraud elderly and vulnerable consumers.
“I am really pleased that the hard work of our Trading Standards officers and Legal team in Swindon has resulted in this successful prosecution and jail sentence.”
