A rogue builder jailed in a housing repair conspiracy last year is facing another prison sentence after admitting a further fraud charge.
Anthony Pounder, from Hartlepool, is on licence from a 27-month jail term imposed at Leeds Crown Court just 12 months ago, after admitting conspiracy to defraud.
He was one of a nine-man gang jailed arising from a total £1.2m conspiracy to defraud vulnerable elderly householders into overpaying for building work which in many cases was not even required at their homes across North Yorkshire.
The 40-year-old appeared before Durham Crown Court today (Wednesday July 16) in a prosecution brought by the county council’s trading standards department.
It relates to building work he pledged to undertake at the home of a family living in Coronation Avenue, Blackhall Colliery, between July and November 2022.
He is said to have failed to have informed them that a Building Notice application should have been submitted to the council for a rolled steel joist installed as part of the work on the property.
Sam Faulks, prosecuting, said the defendant received up to £70,000 in payment from the family he defrauded.
Stephen Constantine, representing Pounder, told Judge Jo Kidd of the defendant’s “relevant conviction for similar offences”, from last year.
Mr Constantine said the defendant is now subject to licence supervision having served the custodial element of the sentence imposed last year.
He confirmed that sentence post-dated the offences for which he is now before the court.
Mr Constantine said the family involved in the latest fraud are said to be still £62,710 out of pocket.
“Realistically, given the amount on the charge sheet, he understands he’ll be facing a further prison sentence.”
Judge Kidd asked for a report from the defendant’s offender manager as to how he is faring under licence supervision from last year’s sentence.
She asked for that report to be submitted prior to the sentencing hearing in three weeks.
Addressing Pounder, she told him: “Having now pleaded guilty to these offences you will be sentenced next month.
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“The question for the sentencing judge will be the length of that sentence.
“Make your preparations for that and in the meantime abide by your bail conditions.
“Understand, if you fail to attend when listed for sentence you will be found and you will receive a further sentence for failure to surrender as well as for these offences admitted today.”
Pounder was bailed to live and sleep at his home address in Lime Crescent and to appear back at the court for sentence on Friday August 8.
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