Conman took thousands for vehicles that did not exist
ASERIAL fraudster conned victims out of thousands of pounds by advertising cars and vans for sale online and taking payment but never providing the vehicles.
Darryl Baldwin-Skeet made £6,500 by defrauding a carer who needed a vehicle for work, and a husband who wanted a car for his wife, who was having a knee operation.
Sentencing him at Cardiff Crown Court, Recorder Peter Rouch QC told the defendant he had caused “untold difficulties” for his victims.
The court heard the first incident occurred on June 10 last year, when a Paul Shepherd bought a Ford Fiesta on eBay.
Roger Griffiths, prosecuting, said he contacted the seller and arranged to transfer £100, but the car was never provided.
In a victim impact statement read out in court, Mr Shepherd said he was looking for a car because his wife was due to have surgery on her knee.
He added he wanted a small car that would be comfortable for her to get in and out of while she was recovering.
Mr Shepherd said: “I never received the car.”
The victim said he felt “frustrated” and “disappointed”, adding: “I work hard for my money.”
He added: “From what I can see he is a serial fraudster. He is clearly dishonest and making a living from crime. It has to stop.”
The next incident occurred on July 12 last year, when a Timothy Laker saw a van advertised online. He contacted the seller, who said he was based in Swansea, and agreed to pay £1,950 to include delivery to County Durham.
The court heard Mr Laker paid a deposit and arranged for the rest to be transferred, borrowing money from a friend.
Mr Griffiths said: “The van did not turn up. The defendant gave a number of excuses.”
In his statement, the victim said: “I work as an end-of-life carer and I have to travel to clients to offer them the support they require.”
The court heard he bought the vehicle because his car had broken down and then had to spend £100 on taxi fares out of his own pocket, which he cannot claim back. Mr Laker said: “It has turned into an absolute nightmare. The whole incident has made me very depressed.”
Prosecutors said a third complainant saw a vehicle for sale on Gumtree and paid the defendant £1,350.
Mr Griffiths said: “The vehicle was not provided.”
The court heard Baldwin-Skeet also bought advertising space in a local paper for £3,200 and never paid for it. Prosecutors said he caused a total loss of about £6,500 to his victims.
The defendant was arrested and interviewed and answered “no comment” to all questions.
Mr Griffiths said there was another fraud offence to be taken into consideration dating back to last June and involving £2,500.
Recorder Rouch noted the total loss with that offence included was nearly £9,000.
Alex Greenwood, mitigating, said all but £700 of fraud to be taken into consideration was repaid.
The judge noted Baldwin-Skeet was jailed for two years in June 2016 for fraud and was on licence when some of the new offences were committed.
Baldwin-Skeet, 35, from Meadow Rise in Pontyclun, admitted four counts of fraud.
Recorder Rouch said: “These offences were designed by you to deprive people of their hard-earned cash.”
Baldwin-Skeet was jailed for 18 months.