Redbridge Council investigation leads to sentencing in £174,000 fraud and money laundering case

​Two Redbridge brothers have been sentenced to over four years in prison for their roles in a sophisticated fraud and money laundering scheme that targeted elderly homeowners. The sentencing follows a multi-year investigation led by Redbridge Council’s Trading Standards Team, with support from National Trading Standards.

The sentencing was handed down at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Tuesday, 14 October 2025. In addition to custodial sentences, the court imposed a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement of up to 10 days and an Unpaid Work Requirement of 240 hours, to be completed within 12 months. The Authority continues to pursue action under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, with a revised confiscation timetable now including Austin and William Euesden.

Between 2019 and 2021, Austin and William Euesden, along with accomplice William Eastwood, carried out unnecessary and overpriced building work, defrauding vulnerable residents of at least £174,000. Their scheme involved approaching elderly homeowners, convincing them that urgent repairs were needed, and then charging exorbitant fees for work that was either substandard or unverifiable.

One example occurred in January 2019, when a local resident in Goodmayes, East London, was approached at home by three men claiming to represent “Austin & Son Roofing and Building Limited.” They told him a chimney pot had fallen and offered to repair it. Trusting their assessment, Mr. Newman agreed to the work without seeking a written quote or verifying the company’s credentials.

The men invoiced him £1,200 for chimney repairs, promising a 20-year guarantee. However, after the work was completed, only one chimney pot appeared to have been re-seated, and the rest of the repairs were not visible from ground level. Additional work, including tile replacement and cement repairs, brought the total cost to £1,800. Mr. Newman’s experience highlights the risks of agreeing to unsolicited home repairs without proper checks.

Austin Euesden pleaded guilty to fraudulent trading, while William Euesden admitted to money laundering offences. William Eastwood was sentenced in December 2023 to a prison term served concurrently with an existing sentence. The Euesden brothers remain subject to a Proceeds of Crime investigation aimed at recovering the defrauded funds.

Cllr Kam Rai, Leader of Redbridge Council, said: "This case demonstrates the devastating impact that calculated fraud can have on some of the most vulnerable members of our community. The deliberate targeting of elderly homeowners is not only morally reprehensible—it’s criminal. I commend the Trading Standards Team for their thorough investigation, which has ensured those responsible are being held to account. The ongoing Proceeds of Crime investigation is a vital step in recovering stolen funds and restoring justice to the victims.”

The investigation was supported by the National Trading Standards Tri Regional Investigation Team, which provided funding and carried out key tasks including gathering victim evidence and conducting suspect and witness interviews.

Lord Michael Bichard, Chair of National Trading Standards, added: "Elderly homeowners were deliberately targeted and deceived into paying large sums for work that was overpriced, unnecessary, or never properly carried out. These offenders showed no regard for the financial loss or emotional distress their actions caused. I commend Redbridge and National Trading Standards officers for their determined investigation. I hope today’s sentence sends a clear message that exploiting vulnerable people in this way will never be tolerated."

Protect yourself from rogue traders by:

• Always seeking written quotes for home repairs
• Verifying the credentials of any company or individual offering services
• Obtaining a second opinion before agreeing to work

If you believe you’re being subjected to any kind of fraudulent activity, please don’t hesitate to contact the council or the police. All first contact with Trading Standards must now be made via the Citizens Advice Consumer Service. You can reach them on 0808 223 1133, or find more information on the Citizens Advice website.