Property fraud resulted in 'unmeasurable emotional distress'

A man from Woodley, Berkshire, has revealed the profound emotional distress he endured after losing around 4,000 to a property scam. Gary Shacklady and his wife are still uncertain if they will recover any of the money they lost.

Jason Cunningham, 39, from Cardigan, Wales, received a four-and-a-half-year prison sentence for defrauding victims of over 113,000. Cunningham ran several property sourcing companies from Craven Road, Newbury, convincing 15 clients to pay non-refundable fees for properties. Many of these transactions ultimately collapsed, and refunds were denied.

The Shackladys sought Cunninghams assistance to let out a property. Cunningham manipulated victims and landlords using forged documents, tenancy agreements, and misleading WhatsApp messages.

"We started receiving mail for a property we didn't own," Mr. Shacklady explained. "He had created a contract in our name for a different property without our knowledge."

Initially, the couple believed Cunninghams services were legitimate, as he appeared professional and experienced. Mr. Shacklady described the emotional strain: "The toll was immeasurable. I often felt very low, anxious, and hesitant to start new projects."

Despite the hardship, Mr. Shacklady felt a degree of relief once Cunningham was imprisoned in August. He had been found guilty of two counts of fraudulent trading and five counts of using false instruments following a nine-week trial.

Author: Sophia Brooks