A ROGUE trader who preyed on elderly victims has been ordered to pay back £145,000 having been convicted of overcharging vulnerable people for house repair work.

Brazil, 58, was made subject to a confiscation order at Portsmouth Crown Court last Friday. Brazil, of Amberley Close, Botley, had pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud and two counts of money laundering on July 13, last year, and was sentenced to a total of two years’ imprisonment.

One of his victims was a woman in her 70s, from Liphook, whom Brazil will have to repay more than £11,660.

In each case, Brazil approached elderly and vulnerable people in Liphook – and in Fareham and Gosport – in 2014 and claimed they needed work done to their homes.

He overcharged them for the work done, which was later found to be of low quality.

Officers from Hampshire Constabulary’s Financial Investigation Unit worked on the case and looked at the amounts Brazil was paid, as well as others that were found in his bank accounts.

Mr Recorder Clarkson QC made Brazil subject to a confiscation order totalling £145,000. That included £8,561.50 to be paid to the victim of the Fareham fraud, a man in his 90s, £11,667.50 to the Liphook victim, and £458.50 to a man in his 80s from Gosport. The rest of the total was made up of money found in Brazil’s bank accounts for which he could not provide an explanation.

Speaking after the hearing, Detective Constable Scott Lymbery said: “I am happy the victims who were vastly overcharged by Brazil, will get back their money.

“These orders were secured using the Proceeds of Crime Act. The power of this legislation has been used to claw back money from a man who targeted the elderly and vulnerable for his own financial gain.

“We will continue to use these powers to make sure convicted criminals have to literally pay for their actions.”

• Hampshire Police have supported Operation Rogue Trader this year, by reinforcing the protection they give to vulnerable residents and by disrupting the activities of doorstep criminals.

The work is led by Operation Liberal, the national intelligence unit that links associated crimes and gathers intelligence on suspects and organised crime groups who travel extensively throughout the UK.

Their key advice to members of the public:

• Lock all doors, even when at home. Use a chain or spy hole

• Stop unknown people from entering your home

• Tell police about unwanted or suspicious callers, by calling 101 - remember if you’re not sure, just don’t open the door.

• If you feel threatened, call 999

Mini-com call users can call 18001 101 or send a text to 07781 480999

Call the independent Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555111.

Further information and crime prevention advice on doorstep crime can be found by visiting www.hamp

shire.police.uk.