Queenborough fraudster jailed

A fraudster who stole vehicles and attempted to sell them on has been jailed.

Bradley Dobson posed as a buyer and agreed to purchase a white Ford Transit van from a man in Gillingham on Tuesday 4 July 2023.

He told the seller he would buy the vehicle for £5,000 and claimed he had sent the money over. The seller believed Dobson and allowed him to leave with the vehicle.

The 49-year-old then drove the van to Queenborough where he saw a man with a quadbike. He offered to sell the van to the rider for £500 and helped the man to load the quadbike into the back of the van.

Dobson, of Dumergue Avenue, Queenborough, then claimed he had left something in the van. He was handed the keys in order to get his belongings however he then drove the van away, with the quadbike loaded in the back.

On Wednesday 5 July he then went to a breakers yard where he offered to sell the van and quadbike. He was given £500 for both vehicles.

On Tuesday 11 July Dobson befriended a couple in Teynham and while talking to them he claimed he knew someone who could help repair their fencing.

He said he needed £160 to buy supplies and would ensure the work was carried out the next day, however neither Dobson nor anyone else attended the property.

The offences were reported to police, with the victims all stating that the man had a woman’s name tattooed on his hand.

Officers carried out enquiries and on Thursday 27 July Dobson was arrested.

Following enquiries he was later charged with three counts of fraud, theft of a motor vehicle and theft from a person.

He admitted the charges and was jailed for three years and four months on Tuesday 20 September at Canterbury Crown Court.

Investigating officer PC Alice Crofts said: ‘Dobson carried out this criminality in order to financially profit. He didn’t have any regard for his victims and committed numerous offences over several days.

‘His sentence is wholly deserved and I hope it serves as a deterrent to others who may think this kind of behaviour is acceptable.’