A carpenter who scammed his clients out of thousands of pounds has been handed a suspended sentence and ordered to pay his victims £15,000. Michael Kempson, who operated in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Hertfordshire, was sentenced by a judge at Luton Crown Court after admitting fraud by false representation. The 39-year-old from Beeston, Bedfordshire, was given an 18-month suspended jail term and ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work. The judge also stated that Kempson must pay his victims £15,000 in total over three years, and part of the sentence would be a mental health treatment requirement. But here's where it gets controversial... The judge heard how Kempson had been prosecuted following an investigation by trading standards officers at Central Bedfordshire Council. Barrister Victory Abang, who prosecuted on behalf of the council, told the judge that the case related to fraud by misrepresentation against 10 people. Mr Abang said the 10 victims lost about £15,000 in total. He said Kempston had admitted 10 offences, during a two-year period between 2022 and 2024, and each fraud followed a 'similar pattern'. Kempson had taken money for jobs including window glazing, fitting a door, building a pagoda, and renovating rooms, he said. Mr Abang said Kempson advertised TwistedKnott's services on social media, visited victims, gave quotes on letter-headed paper, and asked for half his payment up-front. Once money had been transferred, he would fail to complete work and make a 'range of excuses' - which included being in hospital and a 'poorly' child. Mr Abang said Kempson had once cited the death of his father as an excuse - when his father was alive. Kempson had operated in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire, and the majority of his victims were 'elderly', Mr Abang told the judge. Barrister Victoria Gainza, for Kempson, said 'particularly vulnerable' people had not been targeted. Ms Gainza told the judge that the victims' average age was 56. She said Kempson had made 'full admissions', was of previous good character, was remorseful, and keen to make 'restitution'. Ms Gainza said Kempson was now training to be a driving instructor. 'Violated' The judge imposed an 18-month jail term, suspended for two years, and said Kempson must carry out 150 hours of unpaid work. She also ordered him to pay a total of £15,000 compensation to the victims in three years and said part of the sentence would be a mental health treatment requirement. 'He has gone into their own homes,' she said. 'He has told everyone lies in order to win their trust and get them to part with money. They are left violated.' She said Kempson's victims were all 'vulnerable' in 'their own way'. But she told Kempson: 'There is a really big prospect of rehabilitation.' She said Kempson had got himself 'into a habit of telling lies'. And this is the part most people miss... The judge also highlighted that Kempson had targeted 'vulnerable' individuals, stating that his victims were 'left violated' and that he had 'told everyone lies in order to win their trust and get them to part with money'. This raises the question: How can we better protect vulnerable individuals from such fraudulent activities? Do you think the sentence handed down is sufficient, or should Kempson have faced harsher consequences? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
