Cold-call scam pair facing jail
JURY TAKES 3 HOURS TO FIND THEM GUILTY
COMPANY directors were told to expect jail for a cold-call con that made £224,000.
The pair were found guilty of fraudulent trading after a 10-day trial at Nottingham Crown Court.
The jury had been told that two Arnold companies had staff phoning small firms, offering to win cuts in their business rates.
But they just filled in forms for rate appeals, then sent in bills for either £399 or £499.
These were followed by threats of county court action if money was not paid.
Jamie Watkins, 29, had denied two counts of fraudulent trading. Callum Clay, 30, pleaded not guilty to one charge. After less than three hours, the jury unanimously found both guilty. They were remanded in custody.
Judge John Burgess told them: “I am sure you have been told a prison sentence is inevitable.”
The case arose out of an investigation by Nottingham City Trading Standards after complaints from across the UK.
The judge asked whether there would be court action to claw back any assets from the pair, who live in Moor Lane, Calverton.
Julia King, prosecuting, said the total cash from the illegal operation added up to £224,00. She told the judge: “There are no assets identified.”
Paul Lazarus, for Watkins, said he would not ask for a probation report as “the sentence is somewhat inevitable”. He applied for Watkins to be granted bail overnight but this was refused. The pair are due to be sentenced today.
After their verdicts, the judge thanked the jury for its work, telling the 12 jurors: “You are doing a job for the benefit of the community.
“Sometimes cases are exciting. You may have found parts of this very dry.”
He is also to decide whether the pair should be banned from becoming company directors again.
The trial heard that the operation was run by firms named Abbey Rowe and Hywood Consultants. It had two “virtual offices” in London. Its website boasted of being “a leading specialist in business rates”, referring to “professionalism, integrity and the utmost discretion and get you great results.”
Miss King said that it contacted small firms including hair salons, takeaway cafes, nail bars and barber’s shops. Some victims struggled with English.
“These two companies effectively embarked on a scam.
“They engaged in high-pressure telephone and postal selling of what was effectively a bogus service offering a reduction of business rates. This was a cold- call business,” said Miss King.
She pointed out that there was no charge for challenging business rates through the Valuation Office Agency, which runs the service for the Government.