27/04/23

Alan Lee was sent to prison in December 2021 for six years and ten months for scamming elderly and vulnerable victims out of over £500,000 for shoddy building work which often left buildings unsafe to live in.

The case involved Mr Lee coning elderly people out of their money by inventing problems they had with their properties, before carrying out unneeded building work, at massively inflated prices and making threats against those who questioned him.

The crime spree took place between September 2018 and December 2020 - targeting properties inRoath, Barry, Ely, Thornhill, Newport and Llanishen.

At Cardiff Crown Court yesterday (26/04/23) a Proceeds of Crime Hearing heard that Mr Lee, 49, from Wentloog Road in Rumney has just under £133,500 in assets, of which, Alan Lee agreed that £100,000 had been hidden.

A full confiscation order was granted by His Honour Judge Jeremy Jenkins which will give each of Mr Lee's 24 victims a 35.74% share for every £1 that they lost. The full payment must be made within three months or a further three years of imprisonment will be added to his existing sentence.

Cllr Dan De'Ath, Cabinet Member responsible for Shared Regulatory Services at Cardiff Council said: "Alan Lee claims to be a builder, but he is a dishonest conman who targets elderly, vulnerable and disabled people out of a lot of money. He has been offending for years and often mocked our trading standards officers that were investigating him.

"He thought he was above the law, but he is still in prison for the crimes that he has committed. Now, we have gone after his assets, and it isn't surprising that he tried to hide £100,000 from the authorities. So, when he gets out of prison, he will have no money and we will be monitoring any work that he does, so we can take appropriate action if he re-offends."