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30
Oct
‘Predatory’ conman who struck in Harrogate jailed for £396,000 fraud
A conman who befriended and stole £396,920 from vulnerable people to fund his lifestyle has been sentenced to four years and six months in prison.
James Chambers, 48, was initially charged with 10 fraud offences. He admitted to seven of the charges in various places, including Harrogate.
Chambers, of St Johns View, Boston Spa, was sentenced at Hull Crown Court on Monday (October 26).
The court heard he befriended members of the community, forming relationships with them and asked for money, falsely assuring repayment, through an alleged trust fund, which has been proven to never have existed.
Chambers was bankrupt at the time. Any sum of money he received was due to be taken by the bankruptcy estate. By receiving money from victims and not declaring this he was in breach of his bankruptcy order.
Detective constable Joanne Richardson, who led the investigation, said Chambers displayed a "consistent pattern of predatory and deplorable behaviour", adding:
During his offending he sought to befriend people, including the vulnerable, before making persistent requests for money, all whilst promising repayments would be imminent.
Our investigation established Chambers had taken a total of £396,920 from many victims all whilst being bankrupt himself.
After asking for money and receiving payment, Chambers would impersonate professionals including lawyers, accountants, government officials as well as personal friends, all in an attempt to offer explanations, all of which turned out to be fiction, for his lack of repayment.
His offending has caused not only financial damage to his victims but also reputational damage to those he has impersonated. Chamber’s offending was not accidental; he knew the damage he was doing and continued with no regard for his victims.
Chambers’ offending is unusual as he asked for money as himself, and only impersonated individuals later down the line as a means to cover his tracks.
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