Two cowboy builders from Ashford have been sentenced to a total of 15 years and 9 months in prison for defrauding twelve vulnerable victims of over £1.3 million. Samuel O’Hanlon, aged 45, received a ten-year sentence, while his apprentice Jack Sargeant, aged 29, was sentenced to five years and nine months at Inner London Crown Court.
The pair committed crimes including fraud and money laundering amounting to more than £2.4 million over several years. Operating through three different businesses, they left many homes incomplete and caused significant disruption to the lives of victims across the UK.
Building Nightmare For Victims
O’Hanlon demanded large upfront payments for home improvement projects but abandoned the work midway, leaving properties in disrepair and repeatedly asking for more money. One of the affected victims was 83-year-old Elizabeth Hennessey. Her late husband, Paul, never returned home after the contractors failed to finish a kitchen extension designed to support his declining health. The couple paid more than double the original £60,000 quote and were effectively locked out of their home for over a year.
Years Of Ignored Warnings
Despite warnings from Trading Standards in 2014 and 2015, O’Hanlon continued his fraudulent activities unchecked for years. The offences impacted victims across multiple counties, raising concerns about the timeliness of authorities’ responses in stopping these rogue traders.
Police And Trading Standards Action
Kent Police, working closely with the victims and Trading Standards, successfully prosecuted the offenders. Detective Chief Inspector Helen Smithers highlighted the sophistication of the scams and emphasised that anyone can fall victim to such fraud.
East Sussex County Council, which led the prosecution, reassured the public that reports of rogue traders are taken seriously and that local authorities often collaborate across boundaries to protect consumers.
Impact On Victims
Elizabeth Hennessey said, “We wanted this work done because my husband had said loud and clear: I just want to stay in my house and garden. But he died, and he never got back here… He ruined the last two years of Dad’s life.”
The sentencing of O’Hanlon and Sargeant represents a significant victory against rogue traders exploiting vulnerable homeowners in the UK.
Originally published by UKNIP.
