ANDREW NEW CONVICTED IN LIVERPOOL FOR FRAUD AND SCAMMING FROM WIRRAL

A man named Andrew New, originally from the Wirral area, has been found guilty of orchestrating a series of fraudulent schemes that resulted in the loss of over £15,000 by a woman in Liverpool. The conviction was handed down at Liverpool Crown Court, where details of his deceptive practices were thoroughly examined and presented.

During the court proceedings, it was revealed that New had fabricated a story about his mother’s death in order to extract money from his partner. He falsely claimed that his mother had passed away, using this lie as a pretext to request financial assistance for funeral expenses. In reality, his mother was very much alive, and this deception was part of a broader pattern of manipulation and dishonesty. The court also heard that New exploited his partner’s kindness and trust by convincing her to transfer money for what he promised were tickets to the Champions League final. He assured her that he would reimburse her after the purchase, but he failed to do so, leaving her financially burdened.

Further investigations uncovered that New had a history of similar scams. One such incident involved him pretending to buy football tickets, which resulted in him stealing £200 from an unsuspecting victim. Additionally, he attempted to scam funds from another woman he met on the dating platform Plenty of Fish, whom he had never actually met in person. His manipulative tactics extended to his previous romantic partner, from whom he repeatedly asked for money under false pretenses, citing fabricated reasons such as petrol payments, funeral arrangements, and event tickets. These actions demonstrated a pattern of exploiting others for financial gain.

Andrew New’s criminal record includes four prior convictions, notably including a two-year community order for fraud that was imposed in 2019. His initial arrest took place in June 2022, and he made his first court appearance in August of the same year. He subsequently pleaded guilty to one count of fraud by false representation, acknowledging his guilt in the matter.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Gary Woodhall acknowledged that the significant delay in resolving the case had allowed New to demonstrate some positive changes in his life. The judge noted that New had been living in a Christian rehabilitation facility in Scotland, working six days a week for a charity, and actively addressing his longstanding drug addiction—factors that had historically contributed to his criminal behavior. The judge emphasized that, had it not been for the delay, a custodial sentence would have been immediate due to the seriousness of his offenses and the emotional and financial harm inflicted on his victims.

As part of his sentence, New was given a 21-month jail term, which was suspended for 20 months. He was also ordered to complete 180 hours of unpaid work, participate in a rehabilitation activity, and adhere to a 12-month residence condition. The court highlighted the emotional damage caused to the victim, who continues to suffer from the financial and psychological effects of New’s manipulations. The judge expressed hope that New’s efforts to turn his life around, including his abstinence from drugs and participation in rehabilitation programs, would lead to further positive change in the future.