Austin and William Euesden were jailed for four years for their sophisticated money laundering scheme
Two East London brothers stole £174k from pensioners by convincing them they needed unnecessary home repairs. Austin and William Euesden have been jailed for four years for their sophisticated money laundering scheme that targeted elderly homeowners.
Between 2019 and 2021 the pair, along with accomplice William Eastwood, carried out their heinous scheme. It involved approaching pensioners on their doorstep and convincing them they needed urgent repairs, before charging exorbitant fees for work that was either substandard or unverifiable.
One example happened in January 2019 where Goodmayes resident Mr Newman was approached at his home by three men claiming to represent “Austin & Son Roofing and Building Limited.” They told him a chimney pot had fallen and offered to repair it. Trusting their assessment, he agreed to the work without seeking a written quote or verifying the company’s credentials.
He was invoiced £1,300 for chimney repairs, promising a 20-year guarantee. But after the work was completed only one chimney pot appeared to have been re-seated, and the rest of the repairs were not visible from ground level. Additional work, including tile replacement and cement repairs, brought the total cost to £1,800.
Austin Euesden pleaded guilty to fraudulent trading, while William Euesden admitted to money laundering offences. William Eastwood was sentenced in December 2023 to a prison term served concurrently with an existing sentence.
The Euesden brothers remain subject to a Proceeds of Crime investigation aimed at recovering the defrauded funds. On Tuesday, October 14 at Snaresbrook Crown Court the pair were sentenced.
The court also imposed a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement of up to 10 days and an Unpaid Work Requirement of 240 hours, to be completed within 12 months.
Cllr Kam Rai, Leader of Redbridge Council, said: “This case demonstrates the devastating impact that calculated fraud can have on some of the most vulnerable members of our community. The deliberate targeting of elderly homeowners is not only morally reprehensible—it’s criminal. I commend the Trading Standards Team for their thorough investigation, which has ensured those responsible are being held to account. The ongoing Proceeds of Crime investigation is a vital step in recovering stolen funds and restoring justice to the victims.”
The investigation was supported by the National Trading Standards Tri Regional Investigation Team, which provided funding and carried out key tasks including gathering victim evidence and conducting suspect and witness interviews.
Lord Michael Bichard, Chair of National Trading Standards, added: “Elderly homeowners were deliberately targeted and deceived into paying large sums for work that was overpriced, unnecessary, or never properly carried out. These offenders showed no regard for the financial loss or emotional distress their actions caused. I commend Redbridge and National Trading Standards officers for their determined investigation. I hope today’s sentence sends a clear message that exploiting vulnerable people in this way will never be tolerated.”
To protect yourself from rogue traders, Redbridge Council has advised people to always get a written quote for home repairs, verify the credentials of the building company and obtain a second opinion before agreeing the work.
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