Gardener Scams Pensioner Out of £50,000 in Ramsgate
Mark Riley made a cold call to a Ramsgate home on 8 July 2020, offering gardening work to a man in his 60s. The victim agreed, and for nearly seven weeks Riley carried out various jobs—while repeatedly pressuring him to withdraw cash to pay for materials and labour.
Flood of Cash Withdrawals Raises Alarm Bells
The man withdrew cash 25 times, handing over a staggering £50,000. The bank soon flagged the unusual activity to kent.police.uk" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="Kent Police" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Kent Police, sparking a major fraud investigation.
Shoddy Work, Inflated Bills
Riley lined up jobs such as weeding, new fencing, painting guttering black, painting roof tiles red, and laying a garden membrane topped with shingle. But a council surveyor found the work was subpar and should have cost no more than £20,000 if done properly.
Mastermind Confesses and Gets Prison Time
The 50-year-old, from Military Road, Ramsgate, admitted fraud at Canterbury Crown Court on 14 September 2023. Just a week later, he was slammed with a prison sentence of two years and seven months.
“Mark Riley took advantage of an elderly man’s trusting nature and defrauded him of a significant amount of his life savings,” said Investigating Officer DC Mark Collins.
“Sadly, the gentleman passed away in January 2023 and never saw justice or got his savings back. Frauds like this can drain victims before they realise what’s happened, and it can happen to anyone.”
“We urge family, friends and neighbours of the elderly to watch out for rogue traders. Don’t agree to work without a proper quote and time to consider it. No one should feel pressured to accept work straight away.”
