Police are searching for a “heartless” fraudster who skipped his sentencing hearing after conning homeowners by convincing them to part with thousands of pounds for unnecessary renovations.
Steven Lee had previous convictions and had been released from jail under licence but continued to swindle eight victims across north-west England, with three in Stockport, Greater Manchester.
The 39-year-old, of Preston, Lancashire, pleaded guilty to eight fraud offences including one relating to a loss of £118,000 before a trial was due to start at Preston Crown Court.
Lee then failed to attending a further hearing earlier this month when he was sentenced in his absence to 10 years in prison.
A warrant has since been issued for his arrest following the investigation by Lancashire Police and trading standards departments in Stockport and Halton, Cheshire.
Trading StandardsLee had traded under the names Drysky Property Services and Dedicated Roofing Solutions, with victims – many of whom were vulnerable – targeted for unnecessary, substandard or incomplete property work, the court heard.
Police also discovered his cousin Eli Young, who was living with him in Rosemary Lane, Bartle, was also involved in defrauding three of the victims.
The 41-year-old was also sentenced to four years’ imprisonment.
During sentencing, Judge Unsworth described the offending as “deliberate, planned and heartless.”
Councillor Dan Oliver, cabinet member for public protection at Stockport Council, said: “These types of crimes have a detrimental impact on the victims long after they are committed and I hope they gain some small comfort from the sentencing.”
