Advance fee fraudster sentenced to 4.5 years in prison

Following an investigation by the Shared Trading Standards Service, supported by West Berkshire Council’s Legal Services Team and National Trading Standards, Jason Paul Cunningham, aged 39, has been sentenced at Reading Crown Court for offences of Fraudulent Trading under the Fraud Act 2006 and Using False Instruments under the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981.

On 06 August 2025, after a nine-week trial, Jason Paul Cunningham of an address in Cardigan, Wales was found guilty by a jury of two counts of Fraudulent Trading and five counts of Using a False Instrument, relating to a sophisticated property sourcing fraud. The offences were committed over a period of approximately three and a half years, during which Mr Cunningham operated multiple property sourcing businesses from his business premises in Craven Road, Newbury. These businesses targeted individuals seeking to invest in let to let serviced accommodation. Customers were persuaded to pay non-refundable fees on the promise of sourcing suitable properties, but many deals collapsed, refunds were refused, and forged documents, tenancy agreements and a WhatsApp message, were used to mislead victims and landlords. The Shared Trading Standards Service investigation was supported by the National Trading Standards Tri Region Regional Investigations Team.

The Judge, in passing the sentence commented that Mr Cunningham has serious previous dishonesty convictions and convictions for unfair trading in 2015, which seriously aggravate the offending. The prosecution will pursue confiscation proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 to recover the benefit of his criminal conduct which he used to fund his lavish lifestyle.

The Reading Crown Court sentenced Mr Cunningham to a 4.5 years’ custodial sentence to be served immediately. A confiscation timetable under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 was also set.

Compensation, costs, financial penalties and the victim surcharge will be decided upon at the conclusion of confiscation proceedings.

Councillor Tom McCann the Portfolio Holder for Public Safety at West Berkshire and Chair of the Joint Public Protection Committee said, ‘The defendant was sentenced following an investigation by the Public Protection Partnerships Trading Standards Investigations Team. The 15 victims in this case have suffered significant financial harm and stress since the fraud took place due to the losses incurred. Victim impact statements describe the detrimental effect on their lives, with some having paid thousands of pounds for properties that never materialised. Losses attributable to Cunningham’s offending exceed £113,000’.

‘We hope that the sentence today will send out a clear message to anyone trading in this manner that we will not hesitate to investigate and if appropriate legal action will follow. I wish to thank the officers from the shared Trading Standards Service and West Berkshire Council’s legal team for all their hard work to get us to this point. I would also like to thank the National Trading Standards Tri Region Regional Investigations Team and the National Trading Standards Board for their support’.

Lord Michael Bichard, Chair of National Trading Standards, said: ‘Fraud in the property and investment sector can tear away the financial security people work their whole lives to build. This case reveals the distress and upheaval that fraudsters can cause when they target people simply trying to build a stable future. Mr Cunningham’s forged documents and false promises misled investors and left them seriously out of pocket.

‘We’re pleased to have been able to support the Public Protection Partnership and help bring this appalling fraud to light. I hope today’s decision makes clear that crimes like this simply don’t pay.’

Ian Wright, Ops Manager for NTS Tri Regional Investigation Team said: “Profit and greed were central to this complex property sourcing fraud, using a variety of business names and which operated for a number of years before coming to the attention of Trading Standards. We are pleased to have been able to provide operational support to the Public Protection Partnership and assist them in bringing this complex offending up before the court. This has once again highlighted the value of partnership working and demonstrates that together we can successfully prosecute even the most complex and protracted of investigations.

Any resident that has concerns about trader-related activity should contact the service on 01635 519930 or e-mail tsadvice@westberks.gov.uk. If you feel threatened or in danger by the presence of the cold caller, call the police emergency number 999.