Jailed Cannock builder scammed elderly out of £32,000

TL;DR

Cannock builder Anthony Millward jailed for scamming seven mainly elderly customers out of over £32,000 on unfinished patio and drive work.
He took hefty deposits between July 2021 and July 2023, left sites shambolic, and used false excuses like a partner's fake death.
Sentence of 32 months highlights targeting of vulnerable people, with £20,500 repaid to victims via solicitors.

The story at a glance

Anthony Millward, a 51-year-old builder from Cannock, was jailed at Wolverhampton Crown Court for fraudulent trading after taking £32,010 from seven elderly customers for patio and drive work that was either not started or left in a mess. The scam ran from July 2021 to July 2023 across Staffordshire, Dudley, Solihull, and Wolverhampton, starting with a Dudley Council Trading Standards probe in 2023. It's reported now following his sentencing on what appears to be a recent court date.

Key points

Millward traded under names like Drive Seal, Bespoke Driveway, and Stafford Driveway Limited, often without receipts or paperwork.
He targeted mainly elderly victims in their 80s, some existing customers, taking deposits then vanishing or doing partial shoddy work.
Excuses included his partner dying of a brain tumour (proven false), stress, hospital visits, family deaths, or material delays from America; he also gave false addresses.
First case: £4,500 upfront plus £3,000 for concrete in Woodsetton, Dudley, in June 2023, leaving the garden wrecked; complaint made in September.
Defence claimed he paid £20,500 via solicitors for compensation and cited seasonal work limits, despite 11 prior convictions for 21 dishonesty offences.
Judge Simon Ward sentenced him to 32 months, calling it an abuse of trust causing emotional and financial stress.
The £20,500 will be split equally among victims.

Details and context

Millward's scheme came to light through Dudley Council Trading Standards after an elderly couple's complaint, leading to checks on addresses, partners, and associates that uncovered more victims in places like Tamworth. He pleaded guilty initially at Dudley Magistrates but later vacated it. Victims faced not just money loss but ruined gardens and drives, with some work abandoned mid-way.

His history of 21 offences for theft and deception made the judge stress the deliberate targeting of vulnerable people. Prosecutor Gary Cook noted the "sob stories" used to dodge refunds. While Millward was still trading, winter slowed his work, per defence.

Key quotes

Judge Simon Ward: “It was an abuse of your position and their trust and what makes it worse was you came up with some pretty sick excuses for why the work was not done, many of which were believed. It has caused your victims emotional and financial stress which none of them deserve.”
Gary Cook, prosecuting: “In total he took £32,010 in payments from seven mainly elderly customers... Millward would feed them a series of sob stories as to why he had not been in touch or the work had not been done.”

Why it matters

Elderly and vulnerable homeowners face real risks from rogue traders who exploit trust for quick cash, as seen in repeated West Midlands cases. Readers should check trader credentials, get paperwork, and report suspicions to councils to avoid financial and emotional harm. Watch for compensation payouts to victims and any appeals, though his prior record suggests limited remorse.