Rogue Trader Jailed for Ripping Off Vulnerable Homeowners
A crafty conman who fleeced elderly homeowners out of hundreds of thousands of pounds has finally been locked up. Hughie Smith, 49, from Fernlands Close, was sentenced at Hove Crown Court on 3 March after pleading guilty to multiple fraud offences.
£180,000 Scam on Elderly Couple in Knaphill
Smith targeted an elderly couple in Knaphill back in 2015, initially offering to fix a brick wall in their front garden. What followed was relentless intimidation, tricking them into costly, unnecessary home repairs. The substandard work came with eye-watering costs, spiralling the couple’s losses to £180,000. Smith’s brazen fraud didn’t stop there — his persistent follow-up calls triggered suspicion from the couple’s son, who alerted police.
Large-Scale Rogue Trading Ring Exposed
Further probing unveiled Smith as the mastermind behind a sprawling rogue trader scam operating across Surrey and Sussex. Trading Standards inspected the victims’ homes and found the couple was ripped off by over £100,000 for shoddy work.
Smith also swindled victims in Sussex, extracting nearly £200,000 from one person over nine months. His sons, Michael and John, were also found guilty of money laundering at Hove Crown Court on the same day.
Police Warn: Beware Door-to-Door Scams
“This is a great result after a thorough investigation with Sussex Police and Trading Standards. The lengthy prison sentence signals criminals will not get away scamming vulnerable people,” said Detective Constable Barnard, who led the case.
This case is a stark warning to be cautious of door-to-door traders. While legitimate businesses may knock, many scams involve overpriced, poor-quality work or undelivered services. Always verify anyone’s identity by independently checking company details online — never just call the phone number shown on their ID card.
