The following story is a tale of woe from both the perpetrador of the crime and his trail of multiple victims.
Jeff Hitchmough had been running a legitimate business as a travel agent and selling timeshare apartment weeks. He had been in his profession for a long time and knew the regulations and rules surrounding the timeshare business.
Jeff’s business ran into some trouble, profits started to decline and rather than facing up to reality of the downfall of his business, he started to do something unspeakable, he started to steal from his customers and lie and cheat his friends.
Mr Hitchmough from Liverpool couldn’t pay his household bills or support his wife who is dependent on him. He began ‘selling’ timeshare apartments and holidays, taking thousands and thousands of pounds from people who considered him to be a friend. In total he pilfered £32,000 from his victims who said ‘We like others, trusted him’, we ‘had faith in him’ and we ‘regarded him as a friend’. The truth of the matter is that he was using his customers taking their money and then telling outright lies.
When his victims were trying to get delivery on their purchases, Jeff told lies and made up elaborate excuses to explain why the ‘goods’ were failing to materialise. His bad behavior continued over a period of 15 months. He built up relationships, made friends, targeted individuals and then failed to deliver on any of his promises. When the complaints started to come in he got caught up in a tangle of lies . One of his prey stated ‘he knew I had a disabled daughter and a sick granddaughter, and some mental health issues myself’ his deception has caused financial strain and she is left ‘sick and betrayed by his actions’
Mr Hitchmough was arrested and charged for his crimes. When he arrived at his trial he pleaded guilty to 8 fraud offences. He was accused of robbing Peter to pay Paul and leaving a trail of innocent victims. His defending counselor advised the court that Mr Hitchmough was ‘hoping the money he stole from people would sort out the problems he had created’. She advised that his wife suffers with poor health and that he had been suffering with depression because of his own actions and the realisation that he was letting so many people down.
He has paid some money back and it has also been suggested that if Mr Hitchmough gets his pension ‘lump sum’ he will use the money to pay back his victims in full.
The Judge at Liverpool Crown Court said ‘I take into account that you have re-paid some of the money and your sick wife depends on you’ the Judge also accepted that the remorse shown by Mr Hitchmough was genuine. Mr Hitchmough was convicted and sentenced to 16 months imprisonment, the Judge the suspended that terms for 18 months. He was then further ordered to 180 hours of unpaid work.
For more information regarding this article or assistance in any other timeshare related issues please contact the TCA on 01908 881058 or email: info@TimeshareConsumerAssociation.org.uk