Guilty plea for swath of handyman frauds across city
A Sooke-based "handyman" has admitted to defrauding 10 customers across the Greater Victoria three years ago.
Glen John French, 62, pleaded guilty in Victoria provincial court on Thursday to 10 counts of fraud under $5,000. No plea was entered on 10 other charges of obtaining money under a false pretense.
Five of the frauds took place in Saanich, three in Victoria and one in Esquimalt in 2009, and one in early 2010 in Langford. After amassing enough complaints, Saanich police issued a warrant for French’s arrest in April 2010. He turned himself in shortly after.
Police said French solicited his handyman renovation services using Craigslist and UsedVictoria websites, would enter into false contracts with homeowners and ask for a deposit, but wouldn’t return to complete the job, giving excuses such as marital problems or a family death.
A pre-sentencing hearing for French is scheduled for Aug. 23 in Victoria.
editor@saanichnews.com
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