Members of criminal gang, which defrauded dozens of victims across the south-east out of more than £300,000, are facing lengthy jail sentences.

The network was unravelled by the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU), which encompasses Surrey Police, and will see ten offenders brought to justice in the New Year.

A trial earlier this year saw the crooks either plead guilty, or found guilty, of a vast array of fraud and money laundering offences involving 34 victims, in total.

Operation Knock investigated crimes perpetrated between October 2013 and September 2014 whereby victims were told their neighbours’ property had been flooded with raw sewage, which was said to have originated from beneath their property.

The victims were told they needed to hire specialist equipment to resolve the issue and to pay a deposit, which would then be refunded.

Incidents took place across Surrey, including in Epsom, Leatherhead, Oxted and Guildford, as well as in Sussex, Hertfordshire, London and Devon.

Lead investigator, Detective Constable Matt Wilson from SEROCU’s Regional Fraud Team, said: “This group were part of a more sophisticated network that intentionally targeted the most vulnerable people.

“Once they found someone that would give them money, they repeatedly targeted them with a barrage of lies and deceit to extract further funds.

"The people convicted have all admitted, or been convicted of, arranging these offences, or allowing their bank accounts to be used to receive and dissipate the funds from these crimes.

"Without these willing participants or others like them these offences could not occur.

“This should act as a deterrent to anyone else tempted to earn some extra money by turning a blind eye to these crime, we will investigate and bring them before the court.”

Sentencing has been split across two hearings, the first taking place on Friday (December 11), which saw the prosecution outline the case against the defendants and present key evidence.

Then on January 8, mitigation will be heard and sentence passed at Lewes Crown Court.

  • On July 3, 2015, George Wickens Junior, 24, of Iveagh Crescent, Newhaven, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud and conspiracy to launder the proceeds of crime between July 31, 2013, and September 30, 2014.
  • On August 14, 2015, George Wickens, 52, of Batts Bridge Road, Maresfield, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud.
  • On September 28, 2015, Lee Farrington, 22, of Churchill Road, Lewes; and Angelia Wickens, 31, of Parklands, Maresfield, pleaded guilty to money laundering offences (conspiracy to conceal, disguise, convert, transfer or remove criminal property).
  • On November 16, 2015, James Cavanagh, 25, of Parklands, Maresfield; Daryl Hayley, 23, of Beeches Way, Faygate; Martin Jones, 26, of Newbury Road, Crawley; Paul Bryson, 24, of Old Farm Close, Haywards Heath; and Alfie Robinson, 23, of Chanctonbury Road, Burgess Hill, pleaded guilty to a count of conspiracy to launder the proceeds of crime between July 31, 2013, and September 30, 2014.
  • During an eight-day trial at Hove Trial Centre, James Cavanagh was also unanimously found guilty by a jury of conspiracy to commit fraud.
  • During the same trial, Martin Suckling, 52, of Churchill Road, Smallfield, was unanimously found guilty by a jury of three counts of acquiring criminal property.