Convicted ‘green energy’ fraudster Hassan Akhtar Qaumi who defrauded elderly people living in Warwickshire and across the West Midlands has lost his appeal against his four and a half years sen...
Convicted ‘green energy’ fraudster Hassan Akhtar Qaumi who defrauded elderly people living in Warwickshire and across the West Midlands has lost his appeal against his four and a half years sentence of imprisonment.
Warwickshire County Council’s Trading Standards Service investigated and prosecuted Mr Qaumi after receiving complaints from consumers.
On Friday 5th June 2020 the Court of Appeal considered his sentence and judged it was correct.
Hassan Akhtar Qaumi defrauded elderly and vulnerable people living in Rugby, Nuneaton, Coventry, Birmingham and Worcestershire of almost £36,000.
At his original trial His Honour Judge Berlin described Mr Qaumi as “a slick and ruthless fraudster of elderly people”. Mr Qaumi used a list containing the names and addresses of people aged over 60 to ruthlessly target potential victims.
He called at victims’ homes unexpectedly, claiming they needed new or replacement solar panels (and/or associated equipment), radiators or boilers when in most cases they did not. Mr Qaumi would then take payment up front for these products but failed to supply them. He also overcharged some of his victims for products that were of no benefit to them. He used the thousands he stole to fund an extravagant lifestyle of eating out, gambling, clothes shopping and entertainment.
Describing the effect on two of the victims, HH Judge Berlin said that one elderly lady had been “systematically defrauded” leaving her “in great distress and tears”. Another elderly victim described as being “very vulnerable” had panicked when he realised he could not pay his direct debits.
At his original trial, Mr Qaumi (aged 29 of Lynton Avenue, Wolverhampton), the sole director of HQ Energy Ltd pleaded guilty to 19 charges of fraud, theft and fraudulent trading.
At Warwick Crown Court on Friday 25th October 2019 Mr Qaumi was handed a four-and-a-half-year prison sentence. He was also disqualified from being a company director for nine years.
Warwickshire County Councillor Andy Crump, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety said:
“Protecting consumers from fraud and in particular our most elderly and vulnerable residents is a key priority for our Trading Standards Service."
"Taking action against fraudsters both protects consumers and supports our business community."
More information about Warwickshire Trading Standards can be found on the Warwickshire Website: https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/tradingstandards