Building scam artist gets seven years jail after £120,000 con

A scammer who worked with bogus builders to con a pensioner out of his life savings has been jailed for seven years.

Gary McCullagh, 42, of Havelock Close in Hammersmith, pleaded guilty to his part in a scam that netted more than £120,000 from a 76-year-old.

The victim was first approached in 2004 by builders offering a free roof survey at his Ponders End home that led to numerous unnecessary and substandard building jobs totalling £66,000.

When the pensioner refused to fund any more work in 2007, McCullagh – posing as a customs officer – told the man he had become part of a VAT scam and would have to pay £5,000 to avoid prison.

The old man went on to pay him £61,400.

In April 2008 McCullagh was charged with five fraud offences and false representation after the man went to Enfield Police.

Officers arranged for McCullagh to collect £12,000 off the pensioner, but were waiting and found him with a pile of fake banknotes.

He was sentenced in the Harrow Green Crown Court to seven years and six months jail.

Detective constable Jonathon Conner said: “The victim was incredibly decent and trusting and believed for many months that a helpful member of the community was assisting him.

“We do not doubt that McCullagh had been working together with the bogus builders and that their deception meant the pensioner lost more than £120,000.”