A window shutter installer who gambled away his customers’ money has been sent to prison. Lewis Blake, 43, from Whitstable, pleaded guilty to fraud and was sentenced to 18 months in jail at Canterbury Crown Court on Thursday.
Blake, a smooth talker who presented himself well, took deposits totalling a staggering £64,774 from 89 unsuspecting victims between August 2020 and May 2021. However, instead of using the funds to install the promised window shutters, he frittered them away on gambling and adult websites.
Victims, initially charmed by Blake’s professionalism, happily paid him half the cost of the shutters upfront. But the promised installations never materialized. Blake offered a series of excuses, blaming delays on the Covid-19 pandemic and problems with overseas shipping.
Suspicions arose when numerous victims, frustrated by the lack of progress, created a social media group to share their experiences. They soon discovered a pattern of deception and reported the matter to Kent Police.
Investigations revealed a stark reality: Blake had ordered only 14 shutters in total during the period of his fraudulent activity. Instead of fulfilling orders, he indulged in a gambling spree, losing over £100,000, and also spent lavishly on adult websites.
At the sentencing hearing, the judge condemned Blake’s actions, highlighting the significant financial and emotional distress caused to his victims. In addition to the jail term, Blake was banned from being a company director for seven years.
This case serves as a stark reminder to always exercise caution when dealing with tradespeople and to thoroughly research and verify their credentials before making any payments.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Beth Brimmicombe-Wood 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 told us 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.’