Conman Liam Hawkins from Hayle defrauded elderly and vulnerable over double glazing for third time – Cornwall Live

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A conman has been jailed after being caught using a window repair business to cheat elderly and vulnerable people out of thousands of pounds for the third time in as many years.

At an earlier hearing at Truro Magistrates' Court Liam Hawkins, 36, from Trelissick Road, Hayle, had initially admitted one charge of obtaining money by deception, contrary to the Fraud Act, but had denied eight other charges. But in a a last-minute change of heart he admitted further charges of taking money from elderly customers with no intention of undertaking the repair works or providing a refund.

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The court was told that Hawkins had two previous convictions relating to 12 almost identical offences and that one of the latest offences was committed just seven weeks after he received a suspended prison sentence in July 2015. He has also failed to make any refunds or compensation payments as ordered by the court at the 2015 hearing.

This time the magistrates heard that Hawkins had admitted cold-calling his victims and lying about working in the area and that he had never ordered the promised replacement windows from the suppliers. Instead he deliberately took the cash deposits, according to prosecutors from Cornwall Council Trading Standards, who had carried out a lengthy investigation into his fraudulent actions.

One charge he admitted involved making a false representation to Roger Dugdale in November 2015 that he had taken a deposit to order parts or materials and perform work at his home, intending to make a gain of 3,100 for himself.

Magistrates sentenced Hawkins to a total of 38 weeks behind bars with a warning that he would serve longer if he failed to make satisfactory arrangements to repay his victims.

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Nigel Strick, Cornwall Council's Fair Trading team manager said: "This is the third time that Mr Hawkins has appeared before Truro magistrates in three years and the third time he has been convicted of offences involving fraud. These latest offences are almost identical to those for which he received a suspended prison sentence in July 2015. Yet despite his previous convictions Mr Hawkins has taken no heed of the warnings issued by the previous courts and has continued to offend.

"Trading Standards investigators were particularly concerned that once again his latest offences were specifically targeted at elderly and vulnerable consumers and the impact of Mr Hawkins' behaviour on his victims in terms of increasing their fear of crime, of losing trust in other people and of causing anxiety and upset has been graphically seen during the investigation.

"Once again this case reinforces the message that you should never deal with anyone who turns up at your door unannounced, no matter how convincing they may seem and no matter how tempting their special offers may sound."

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Conman Liam Hawkins from Hayle defrauded elderly and vulnerable over double glazing for third time - Cornwall Live