Local Builder Jack Murphy was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court on 2nd November 2012 on a number of charges where he and his business partner prayed on the vulnerable and elderly by persuading them to agree to unnecessary building works which were then completed at a substandard and dangerous level and at an overly inflated price.

Christine Henson prosecuting on behalf of the Council told the court of a car port erected by Mr Murphy which was unable to house a car that it had blown down in the first gust of wind. Another pensioner had paid £12,000 for a kitchen which had been purchased by the Defendant’s business partner for under £2,000. Mr Murphy received a one-year prison sentence suspended for 2 years. He was also ordered to complete 200 hours unpaid work and was made subject to a curfew. He was ordered to pay full compensation to his victims within 14 days and reimburse Brighton and Hove City Councils costs in bringing the case to court. His business partner Marcus Crist failed to attend court and there is a warrant out for his arrest.