Chester rogue traders Gary Lancaster and Neil Butler jailed after fleecing dementia sufferer

Aug 13 2009 by Paul Mannion, Chester Chronicle

Judge condemns ‘despicable’ offence

SENTENCING Butler and Lancaster, Chester’s most senior judge, Elgan Edwards, warned the elderly to be on their guard.

He said: “These kind of offences disgust all right minded members of society and also frighten many older people and should remind them they should always be on guard against rogues like you two.

“You fleeced an old lady, you did so deliberately, you reduced her bank balance from a comfortable amount to a small amount and used the money for your own purposes.

“The message has got to go out, not only to you, but others who will behave in this manner and attack the most vulnerable members of society. This kind of mean and despicable offence will be punished by the courts.”

Appearing on Friday, Butler and Lancaster, had been working under the guise of Acorn Fascia.

Chester Crown Court heard how they ‘cleaned out’ Muriel Minshull.

They made 10 invoices over a five week period, totalling £6,300 for unfinished work that was worth just £500.

After contacting the 79-year-old by phone they began work on the fascia boards at her two storey, semi-detached, Vicars Cross home in October last year.

Peter Moss, prosecuting, said: “They started painting the fascias but the job developed. There was more work that needed to be done, jet washing around the house and the driveway.

“As they went along doing the work during in October and November, they kept producing invoices for the work.

“On one occasion they drove her to the bank to oversee the withdrawal of cash. She was cleaned out and had no cash left in her account.”

It was only after a concerned neighbour cornered the builders that their sinister scheme was rumbled.

After sentencing, judge Elgan Edwards ordered the destruction of the ladders, tools and equipment as well as Butler’s Land Rover Freelander.

Andrew Green, defending Lancaster, who was sentenced to six months imprisonment and also breached a suspended sentence he received for two counts of false representation in 2007, said: “He counts what has happened as very wrong and had the good sense to repay his share of the money.”

Sarah Badrawy, defending Butler, said: “He understands the impact of his behaviour and reflects how deeply distressing and traumatic an incident it was.”