Two men claiming to be tree surgeons have been sentenced in connection with rogue trader offences after they intimidated a Sittingbourne resident into handing over more than £30,000.
The father and son fraudsters, both named Daniel Mobey, harassed their victim over a three-year period demanding extra payments for work which had originally been priced at £4,000.
The pair initially approached the man’s property on 31 January 2015. They offered to cut back trees in his garden and also agreed to remove some overgrown bushes.
The job was completed over six weekends and the victim, aged in his 60s, paid the agreed price in instalments.
Demands
Despite no further money being owed, from January 2016 the Mobeys continued to visit the victim, seeking additional payments.
Over a three-year period he was coerced into paying them an extra £31,160.
The incidents were first reported to Kent Police in 2017. The victim was able to give descriptions of the offenders, including that the younger of the two had a distinctive gold tooth.
In 2018, the investigation led to the arrests of 66-year-old Daniel Mobey, of Hernhill, Faversham and Daniel Mobey, 39, from Herne Bay.
Both men were charged with fraud, carried out between January 2016 and April 2018.
They pleaded not guilty at Maidstone Crown Court and were convicted after a trial.
On Thursday 10 February 2022, Mobey (junior) was jailed for two years and six months. The court heard his father had played a lesser role and he received a suspended sentence.
Devastating impact
DC Chris Groves said: ‘The victim was intimidated by Daniel Mobey and his father, who had presented themselves as honest tradesmen. In reality, they carried out what was essentially some minor work in this man’s garden and then repeatedly targeted him into paying them large sums of cash.’Offences like this have a devastating impact on victims, whose confidence and trust can be destroyed and they also tarnish the good name of the vast majority of tradespeople who work with honesty and integrity.‘
‘This case should serve as a reminder to other householders to be cautious of who you allow to carry out work on your property. Always ensure you are provided with a quote in advance, and always get a second or third opinion if someone calls at your address claiming there is something that needs addressing or fixing.’
DC Chris Groves