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Posted on Wednesday 29 September 2021
Callum CAIRNS

A Sunderland landscaper who defrauded thousands of pounds from a terminally ill woman has been handed a jail sentence and hefty fine.

26-year-old Callum Cairns, of Ramillies Road, Sunderland, was hired to renovate a garden in Seaham earlier this year so that Mrs Amy Sproates could enjoy the Spring weather in her declining health.

But despite collecting almost £2000 and digging up parts of the garden, Cairns failed to carry out any meaningful work, leading to his arrest and being charged with fraud by false representation.

Struck by the callous act, officers from Seaham Neighbourhood Police Team rallied together with generous local businesses and members of the community to complete the renovation themselves, giving the garden a full makeover spanning paving, turfing, fencing and plumbing.

Appearing at Durham Crown Court last week, Cairns was convicted of fraud and remanded into custody.

On Monday he was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment and ordered to pay £1959.20 compensation to the victim.

Inspector Joanne Eales said: “The whole of the Neighbourhood Team and I are absolutely delighted to see that not only has Amy been able to enjoy her renovated garden, but she has also received justice from the court.

“This was a heartless, opportunistic crime in which Cairns took advantage of a vulnerable member of society, and from start to finish it has really pulled at our heart strings.

“I hope that his sentencing provides some form of closure to Amy and her family.”

A Sunderland landscaper who defrauded thousands of pounds from a terminally ill woman has been handed a jail sentence and hefty fine.

 

26-year-old Callum Cairns, of Ramillies Road, Sunderland, was hired to renovate a garden in Seaham earlier this year so that Mrs Amy Sproates could enjoy the Spring weather in her declining health.

 

But despite collecting almost £2000 and digging up parts of the garden, Cairns failed to carry out any meaningful work, leading to his arrest and being charged with fraud by false representation.

 

Struck by the callous act, officers from Seaham Neighbourhood Police Team rallied together with generous local businesses and members of the community to complete the renovation themselves, giving the garden a full makeover spanning paving, turfing, fencing and plumbing.

 

Appearing at Durham Crown Court last week, Cairns was convicted of fraud and remanded into custody.

 

On Monday he was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment and ordered to pay £1959.20 compensation to the victim.

 

Inspector Joanne Eales said: “The whole of the Neighbourhood Team and I are absolutely delighted to see that not only has Amy been able to enjoy her renovated garden, but she has also received justice from the court.

 

“This was a heartless, opportunistic crime in which Cairns took advantage of a vulnerable member of society, and from start to finish it has really pulled at our heart strings.

 

“I hope that his sentencing provides some form of closure to Amy and her family.”

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