A fraudulent tradesman from Whitstable, who swindled nearly £65,000 from customers and gambled it away, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison.

A Trail of Deception

Lewis Blake, a window shutter installer from Gladstone Road, conned 89 customers out of £64,774 between August 2020 and May 2021. Blake took substantial deposits from customers, promising to install shutters, but failed to deliver on his promises.

Victims described Blake as polite and well-presented, and many were initially confident in paying him half the cost of the shutters upfront. However, Blake never returned to complete the work, offering a series of excuses including:

• Covid-19-related delays
• Shipping issues

Discovery of Fraud

A social media group formed by victims brought Blake’s fraudulent behavior to light. Investigations revealed that despite receiving significant deposits, Blake had only ordered 14 shutters between 2019 and 2022.

Records showed he spent over £100,000 on gambling and £14,000 on adult websites, leaving customers without their promised installations or refunds.

Court Proceedings

Blake pleaded guilty to fraud and was sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court on 16 January 2025. He was also banned from serving as a company director for seven years.

Police Statement

Detective Constable Beth Brimmicombe-Wood, who led the investigation, said:

“Criminals like Lewis Blake give reputable tradespeople a bad name when they betray the trust of their customers for their own personal benefit.

“Following his arrest, he claimed he had mistakenly priced himself too low and had attempted to gamble his customers’ money in order to complete the orders. But even if that were true, it was not his money to gamble with, and many victims were left out of pocket as a result.

“It is entirely appropriate that he should be sent to prison for the crimes he has committed.”

Impact on Victims

Many victims have been left financially burdened, with some struggling to recoup their losses. Blake’s case has highlighted the importance of thoroughly vetting tradespeople and exercising caution when paying large deposits upfront.

The sentencing serves as a warning to others tempted to exploit their customers’ trust for personal gain.