A 60-year-old man from Exeter has been charged with illegal money lending and money laundering offences. It follows an investigation by the England Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT) working in partnership with Devon, Somerset and Torbay Trading Standards and Devon and Cornwall Police. The suspect was arrested after a warrant… Read More
Devon
Loan sharked told “Pay back £315,000 – or face more jail time”
A loan shark, who ran an illegal money lending business for nine years, has been ordered to pay back £315,000 in proceeds of crime – or face more time in jail. Paul Stretch, aged 58, of Twickenham Road in Newton Abbot, was jailed for two years and three months on… Read More
There’s no hiding place for rogue traders
Two trading standards services on different sides of the country have worked together to convict a rogue trader who preyed on the elderly and the vulnerable. Self-employed gardener James Holmes, 29, has been sentenced to 200 hours community work after being found guilty of fraud. Holmes, who pleaded guilty, was… Read More
Residents urged to guard against scams
Residents across the South West are being reminded to keep their guard up against scammers, following the successful investigation into a trader. Victims of jailed rogue plumber Gary Henry from North Devon will receive more than £16,000 of his ill-gotten gains. An Exeter Crown Court Judge ordered Henry, 56, from… Read More