Man, 61, 'posed as auctioneer to steal hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of antiques' from pensioners

A FRAUDSTER posed as an auctioneer to steal hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of antiques from wealthy elderly victims, a court heard yesterday.

Peter Taylor, 61, is said to have posted flyers and business cards through the letterboxes of "elderly and vulnerable" residents at plush addresses in Kensington and Chelsea in West London, in order to drum up business.

One victim lost more than £100,000 after agreeing Mr Taylor could flog his furniture, but never passed on the proceeds of the sale, while another lost £60,000, jurors at Isleworth Crown Court were told.

Over a three-year-period between March 2016 and February 2019, he allegedly posed as a valuer from Chelsea Auction House – a well-established dealer in the area – to hoodwink his victims.

Mr Taylor's 14 alleged victims contacted him and asked the dealer to value their possessions before selling them, jurors were told.

After they agreed a value, he sold their wares before forwarding on any proceeds to the victims, the court heard.

But prosecutors claimed he instead sold them before any value was agreed and would often not pass on the money from any sale to victims.

Mr Taylor would allegedly then go "off-grid" for months and repeatedly refuse to return calls, texts and messages.

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While some victims got some money back, none had allowed him to sell their possessions in the first place, the court heard.

It was claimed one restaurant owner lost £112,000 after Mr Taylor failed to return furniture from closed eateries.

Jurors also heard that he changed his name during the time of the alleged offences.

Victims would often only discover their possessions had been sold when they saw them online or at an auction house, the court heard.

Prosecutor Katrina Charles said: "This is a case where the defendant targeted elderly and vulnerable victims.

"He would post flyers and business cards through their letter boxes and say he was from an established auction house.

"Upon receipt of the flyers, the victims would contact the defendant, he would go to their homes or business premises, promise to collect the items and offered to value them.

"He would at some stage say he would discuss the value of the items before selling them.

"He would sometimes make an inventory of the items on the promise he would take time to get back to the victims and value them.

"The victim would think about whether they wanted to sell for that price, and it would be an ongoing discussion. If the items were sold, he said proceeds would be sent to the complainants."

Mr Taylor, from Wandsworth in South West London, denies all 14 counts of fraud.

The trial continues.


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