Boss jailed after elderly victims conned in £42k mobility aids swindle
THE boss of two former mobility companies has been jailed after admitting defrauding elderly victims out of more than £40,000.
The case, which featured on the BBC's Watchdog programme, involved one of the biggest investigations Derbyshire County Council's trading standards team has carried out.
It had received a wave of complaints about companies Virgo Healthcare Limited and Lifestyle.
Both were run from premises on Gainsborough Business Park, Long Eaton, by husband and wife Amarjit, 51, and Ranjit Gill, 45.
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Yesterday, at Leicester Crown Court, Amarjit Gill was sentenced to 18 months in prison for what Judge Ebraham Mooncey described as "disgraceful activities".
At a previous hearing, both Gills had admitted 25 separate counts of fraud which saw them make £42,515 from elderly victims.
Ranjit Gill was given a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid community work.
The couple, of Brackenfield Drive, Giltbrook, were banned from being directors for five years.
Their staff sold mobility aids – including reclining chairs, orthopaedic beds and walk-in showers, costing up to £3,892, to elderly buyers through home visits after speculative telesales calls.
Some of the fraud offences related to the victims not being given their money back when they tried to cancel but, in the worst cases, the goods were not even delivered.
Councillor Kevin Parkinson, said: "These crimes targeted some of the most vulnerable members of our communities in their homes. The judge in this case acknowledged Amarjit Gill's total disregard for a six-month suspended prison sentence made against him in February 2011 after we took action against his previous company ABM Mobility."
David Messom, 27, of Maws Lane, Kimberley, and Samuel Routh, 26, of Wilkinson Close, Chilwell, were employed by the Gills as managers.
Messom was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid community work, after pleading guilty to nine fraud charges.
Routh was sentenced to nine months in prison, suspended for two years, and told to do 180 hours of unpaid community work, after pleading guilty to eight fraud charges.
Both companies are no longer trading.
Comments
by Yorkyram
Thursday, December 20 2012, 2:01PM
“here's another example of the elderly being ripped off and traumatised and they get some measly pathetic sentence that gives no hope of any justice seen to be done, how about 5 years with no parole for this kind of crime..sorry but until stiff harsh longer sentences are dished out to scum like these then the deterrent will never be there..when oh when are we going to come down good and proper and give us some confidence in the justice system.”
by ianshelton
Thursday, December 20 2012, 12:02PM
“Good work by Derbyshire Trading Standards. People who exploit the vulnerable & elderly in society need to get nailed.
Thank god it didn't happen in Derby city. They'd probably still be trading & planning on expanding...”
by Georgiesmum
Wednesday, December 19 2012, 4:22PM
“18 months is pathetic. I would bet good money that the stress they caused to some of their elderly `'clients" was unimaginable.”
by towercrane
Wednesday, December 19 2012, 4:00PM
“No longer trading untill release”