Whitstable Tradesman Jailed for Swindling Nearly £65K, Gambled it All Away
Scam Artist Blake Busted
Lewis Blake, a window shutter installer from Whitstable, has been slammed with an 18-month prison sentence after duping 89 customers out of a whopping £64,774. Between August 2020 and May 2021, Blake pocketed hefty deposits for shutter installs – but never returned to do the job.
Victims described Blake as polite and sharp-dressed, winning their trust and coaxing them to pay half upfront. But promises quickly turned into excuses, including Covid-19 delays and shipping snags, as Blake vanished without a trace.
Fraud Uncovered via Social Media
The truth exploded when duped clients banded together in a social media group. Investigations revealed Blake had only ordered 14 shutters between 2019 and 2022, a tiny fraction of his publicised workload. Worse, records showed he blew over £100,000 on gambling and splurged £14,000 on adult sites, leaving customers out of pocket and without a refund.
Court Comes Down Hard
Blake pleaded guilty to fraud and was sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court on 16 January 2025. Aside from jail time, he’s banned from being a company director for seven years.
Police React: Justice Served
“Criminals like Lewis Blake give reputable tradespeople a bad name when they betray the trust of their customers for their own personal benefit,” said Detective Constable Beth Brimmicombe-Wood.
“Blake claimed he underpriced his work and tried to gamble customer deposits to complete orders. But it wasn’t his money to risk, and countless victims have been left out of pocket.”
“His prison sentence is a clear message: tricking customers won’t be tolerated.”
The Fallout: Victims Warned to Stay Vigilant
The financial hurt runs deep for many victims, some still struggling to recover lost cash. Blake’s scam shines a harsh spotlight on the need to vet tradesmen carefully and think twice before handing over big deposits.
This verdict should serve as a stark warning to anyone tempted to exploit customer trust for quick cash.
