Pair charged with two counts of fraud by false representation following incidents in the Stowmarket area

Two men appeared before Ipswich Magistrates’ Court today, Friday, July 29, charged with two counts of fraud by false representation following two incidents in the Stowmarket area.

They are Barry Cameron, aged 43 and of St Thomas’ Road in Luton, Bedfordshire, and 31-year-old Kenny Hughes, of Cranfield Park Avenue, in North Benfleet, Essex, have both been charged with two counts of fraud by false representation.

Now police are urging residents to remain vigilant against cold callers offering garden services, following the incidents on Wednesday, July 27.

The first occurred at an address on The Green, in Stowupland.

At approximately 1.50pm a man rang the doorbell of a premises offering to cut the hedges in the back garden. A price was agreed and two men reportedly joined the first to carry out the work.

The residents, a couple in their 70s, were then asked to pay an increased amount, with the victims attending an ATM to withdraw the remaining cash.

The second incident also occurred on Wednesday afternoon at an address in Ford View Road, in Stowmarket, where the resident – a woman in her 50s – was offered work in her garden.

Again, the male suspects asked for an inflated amount and the victim paid some of the costs.

Yesterday, Thursday, July 28, the two men were arrested and subsequently charged in connection with the incidents and came before the court today.