Arthur Draper, 41, of no fixed address, has been sentenced to a three-year custodial sentence at St Albans Crown Court today. Draper pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud following a series of cold-calling incidents that sought to defraud homeowners of a total of £141,900, with £90,200 obtained via cheques and bank transfers.
An investigation by Hertfordshire County Council’s Trading Standards Service found that between November 2022 and January 2023, Draper targeted residents in Hertfordshire and Nottinghamshire, falsely claiming that urgent roof repairs were needed. Homeowners were pressured into paying large sums for unnecessary, incomplete or substandard work, leaving victims financially harmed and emotionally distressed.
The reduced but consecutive sentence follows an earlier hearing in December 2025 at Leicester Crown Court for similar offending where Draper received a six-year four-month custodial sentence, meaning that the public will now be protected from Draper for the next nine years in total.
In passing sentence HHJ Mann stated, “You make money by stealing from old and vulnerable people. It is what you do.” Referring to Draper’s earlier sentence, HHJ Mann said, “I must consider the totality of the offending, but you don’t get these offences for free, that’s not how it works.”
In a victim impact statement, one victim stated “I became withdrawn, so much so that it is only recently that I have felt able to start rebuilding relationships with family, friends, neighbours and traders. The emotional pain is inestimable.”
In linked proceedings, Andrew Mellor, 42, had earlier pleaded guilty to money laundering offences connected to the fraudulent scheme and will be sentenced later this year.
Ajanta Hilton, Executive Member for Public Health and Community Safety at Hertfordshire County Council, said:
“This was a highly organised and targeted fraud that left victims not only out of pocket but suffering immediate and long-lasting emotional distress. Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of the offending, and we hope it sends a clear message that this kind of exploitation will not be tolerated”
Hertfordshire Trading Standards received operational support and funding from the National Trading Standards Tri Region Regional Investigations Team.
Lord Michael Bichard, Chair of National Trading Standards, said:
“Those targeted were pushed into making rushed decisions and left facing substantial financial losses, poor or unfinished work, and lasting emotional distress from the people they placed their trust in.
“This case highlights the harmful nature of cold-calling fraud, where homeowners are put under pressure with false claims that urgent work is required.
“Anyone concerned about doorstep sellers, or who believes they may have been targeted, should contact the Citizens Advice consumer service on 0808 223 1133.”
Advice to avoid rogue traders and doorstep criminals:
- Choose a trader that is part of the Which? Trusted Trader Scheme
- Never engage with cold callers knocking on your door or who call out of the blue
- Be wary of using traders recommended on social media
- Get three quotes from different and independently sourced traders
- Be careful of online reviews as these may not be genuine
If you think you might have been a victim of this type of crime, please report it to the Citizens Advice consumer helpline 0808 223 1133 and Action Fraud 0300 123 2040
For consumer advice: Citizens Advice https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/
To research traders: https://trustedtraders.which.co.uk/
Notes to Editors
Background:
In December 2025, Draper received a 6-year 4-month custodial sentence following a National Trading Standards Regional Investigations East Midlands Team case concerning similar offending between 2019 and 2020. The sentence imposed today will run consecutively.
Charges:
Arthur DRAPER pled guilty to:
On days between 1st November 2022 and 31st January 2023, conspiracy to commit fraud by making false representations, namely that building works were necessary and/or reasonably priced, when they were not, thereby intending to cause a gain for themselves or others, contrary to section 1(1) of the Criminal Law Act 1977.
Andrew MELLOR pled guilty to:
Between 23 November 2022 and 30th December 2022, converted criminal property, namely £33,600, knowing or suspecting that it was wholly or partly the proceeds of crime.
Contrary to section 327 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002
About National Trading Standards
National Trading Standards delivers national and regional consumer protection enforcement. Its Board is made up of senior and experienced heads of local government trading standards from around England and Wales with an independent Chair. Its purpose is to protect consumers and safeguard legitimate businesses by tackling serious national and regional consumer protection issues.