Scarborough Fraud Investigation Secures Justice for Vulnerable Victim

A man has been jailed for 21 months for defrauding a vulnerable woman from Scarborough out of more than £15,000.

Robert Wiles, of High Row, Kirby Misperton, Malton, was sentenced at York Crown Court on Wednesday 30th July 2025.

The 36-year-old pleaded guilty to committing fraud by false representation at Scarborough Magistrates’ Court on 2 June 2025.

The victim, who has mental and physical issues, was in her late 50s when Wiles carried out his offending between 28 November 2019 and 27 February 2022.

He initially befriended and helped her with computer work and various household cleaning and decorating tasks for payment, which were often not completed.

During this time, he pressured the victim into transferring £15,144.49 into his own bank account while falsely claiming she could be investigated for benefit fraud.

These usually occurred on or shortly after the victim received her disability benefits.

The investigation found that Wiles even persuaded the victim to change banks after concerns were raised by her previous bank about the series of online transactions from her account to his.

The matter came to the attention of North Yorkshire Police on 16 March 2022 after a report was made by a new friend the victim had confided in while staying in hospital.

Wiles was arrested and a detailed investigation began which included forensic financial and digital examinations to uncover and piece together the key evidence.

Detective Constable Stephanie Palmer, who led the investigation, said:

“Wiles has had an attitude of disdain towards the victim throughout, never showing any remorse.

“He constantly changed his explanations and even put the blame onto the victim for his actions.

“At one point during the police interviews, he cruelly stated he would rather kill himself   than be a carer for the victim and that she deserved to be alone. 

“The victim is very vulnerable due to mental and physical health issues, including poor mobility, and had believed that they were friends.

“Wiles took advantage of this and made her petrified by falsely claiming she would be investigated for benefit fraud.

“Almost every month during the period of the fraud, she was left with hardly any benefits in her bank account.

“Without her bravery, this outcome at court would not have been achieved.

“However, the despicable actions of Wiles have had a lasting impact on the victim.

“I truly hope she can find some comfort knowing that he has finally faced justice for what he has put her through.”

In a personal statement the victim of the fraud said:

“I feel like I have become a totally different person now, I am not the same as I was prior to this whole situation.

“Since what happened with Robert, I have been nervous, particularly in the evenings. I have changed locks at my house, got a spy hole put in and I mostly have stayed inside at home, having to get food delivered to me.

“If anyone calls me, I worry about whether they are real or not, or if they have good intentions towards me. I struggle to sleep and have insomnia, for which I have to take medication and sleeping tablets for.

“I was not in the best of health prior to all this, and things have only become more difficult after having a serious operation on my foot, for which I need rehab and I’m still struggling to get back on my feet.

“As much as I am looking forward to being able to return home, I also feel sad as I will be on my own and will not be able to rely on anyone else to look after me as I now struggle to trust anyone.

“I genuinely believed that Robert was a friend who was looking out for me and trying to help me, though obviously at some point the doubts set in.

“Once it all came out, I felt sick that I’d been ‘had’ by Robert. From once being a friend, I now never want to see Robert ever again or be anywhere near him. I feel that he has ruined my life. I feel that Robert took away my ability to think for myself and I now feel shyer and more reserved. I have felt more uncomfortable around men and feel I have lost my innocence, where I once was very laid back and even a little naive.

“I never used to think about how the actions of other people could affect me, though now it is never far from my mind.

“In terms of my finances, I can’t trust anyone now to do what they say they will. I’ve never had any compensation from the bank and have never had any money back from Robert.

“I’m not able to work due to my health issues, so this is a big problem. I would love to move away from the area I live in so that I can get away from Robert and what has happened, but I have no way of affording this now.”