Pensioner Taken Jewellery Shopping by Rogue Traders After Banks Refused Cash

Pair jailed for conning vulnerable residents in Falmouth and Truro

Two men who targeted vulnerable people across Cornwall with bogus roof and gardening work have been jailed following a prosecution by Cornwall Council’s Trading Standards team.

Bracelet used as payment after failed bank withdrawals

Tommy Aaron Chislett, 22, and Shane Lee, 31, both from Wheal Jewel in Redruth, took a pensioner with dementia to a jewellery shop and made him buy a £3,500 gold bracelet as payment for roof repairs. The incident happened on 25th January 2024, after banks had refused to release cash.

The men had cold called at the victim’s home in Falmouth, claiming his roof needed cleaning. After putting ladders up and getting onto the roof, they told the householder the roof needed fixing and gave a verbal quote of £5,000 — with no paperwork — demanding the money upfront.

When the victim went to his local bank, staff refused the withdrawal. Undeterred, Chislett and Lee then drove the man to a different branch in an attempt to try again. Meanwhile, the bank had contacted the victim’s daughter, who arrived at the house to find her father missing. She called the police and reported him as a missing person.

After further attempts to withdraw money failed, the men took the victim to a jewellery shop in Camborne where he was directed to buy a £3,500 bracelet. The jewellery was taken as payment before he was returned home. Chislett, Lee and another male were arrested shortly after, but the bracelet was never recovered.

Second victim pressured into handing over bank card and PIN

In a separate incident in June 2023, Chislett and Lee had delivered flyers advertising a gardening business to homes in the Truro area.

One householder got in touch for hedge trimming. The men turned up and carried out the work with no paperwork or cancellation notice, then demanded £300. The customer, confused and under pressure, handed over his bank card and PIN. Chislett and Lee went to a local supermarket and withdrew the money.

However, they returned demanding an additional £1,000. In a panic, the victim rang his father, who attempted a bank transfer. That payment was blocked by the bank, and the men left unaware they had not received the funds.

Sentenced at Truro Crown Court

Chislett and Lee were sentenced on Thursday 3rd April 2025 at Truro Crown Court to two years in prison each. They had previously pleaded guilty to three charges of attempted theft and two charges of fraud.

Gary Webster, Trading Standards Group Leader at Cornwall Council, said:

“These incidents are truly shocking examples of how some of the most vulnerable people in our community can be exploited for financial gain. It is clear that both Chislett and Lee operated solely with the intent of identifying the most vulnerable consumers, with little interest in completing any meaningful work.

“Thankfully on this occasion the police and Trading Standards were alerted to these incidents; however, we know that there are many more that are not reported. It is vital that communities are vigilant and look out for friends and neighbours and report any suspicious activity.”