A father and son have been sentenced to prison after raising £136,000 (around 159,000 euros) in an elaborate fraud scheme.
According to Sky News, Paul Mathews, 62, and Dean Mathews, 40, bought reconditioned Tefal steam irons at significant discounts and then returned them to another shop, using false receipts to claim that they had been bought there.
Norwich Crown Court sentenced Paul to three years in prison and Dean to two years in prison.
In total, the pair have made 528 exchanges or returns of items since 2021.
Suspicions were initially raised by the chain of shops targeted, called Argos. The pair were arrested in February this year for fraud and money laundering.
During searches carried out by the authorities, several items were seized, including three steam irons and a shop bag.
Both were released on bail and one of the conditions of their release was a ban on visiting the chain's shops. After 24 hours, however, the father and son had already broken this rule.
So, in May 2024, they were arrested again, after the authorities realized that they had violated the conditions of their release on bail. Bank cards linked to the scam were found hidden inside a watch, as well as 19 other offences recorded during their probation period.
‘Retail fraud has a huge impact on a very human level. The impact of this fraud has a human element when you consider that companies depend on profitability to pay their employees‘ salaries, health benefits and health insurance,’ said Chief Inspector Lee Parish of the London police.
