Con-man has jail term increased

Lawrence Newbury, 41, of Summergangs Lane, was among the members of the gang of travellers, based in Leicestershire, who defrauded more than £140,000 from 29 victims from different parts of the country.

One of their victims, a pensioner from Earl Shilton, near Hinckley, handed over more than £10,000 after the con-men repeatedly targeted him over a six-month period.

The gang were jailed for a total of 12 years at Birmingham Crown Court in May, after admitting conspiracy to defraud, but, after the case was referred to London’s Criminal Appeal Court by the Attorney General, Dominic Grieve QC, top judges said their punishments were nowhere near tough enough and increased their jail terms.

Newbury had his three-year-and-four-month jail terms increased to four years and eight months.

The Attorney General said: “This was a callous and well organised nationwide conspiracy to defraud, which was deliberately targeted at the vulnerable, and in particular the elderly.”