Conman threatened to 'cut off' victim's hands in his own home

BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE Undated handout photo issued by Warwickshire Police of fraudster Frankie Maughan, 22, who has had his sentence increased by the Court of Appeal. Issue date: Thursday September 12, 2024.
-Credit: (Image: Copyright remains with handout provider)


A "Jekyll and Hyde" conman who was imprisoned for robbing and threatening a vulnerable man in his own home has had his sentence extended by the Court of Appeal.

Frankie Maughan made daily visits to the victim's residence, menacing him with threats of severing his hands with a machete unless he surrendered his bank card and PIN, the court heard.

Over two months, the 22 year old squandered more than £3,600 of the victim's money to support his lifestyle, splashing out on food, hotels, and taxis.

Read more: Thug stabbed man in the face after 'row at house party'

The Attorney General's Office (AGO) informed the court that the victim, a man in his 50s with mobility issues, also had his Rugby, Warwickshire home "extensively soiled" due to Maughan's dog.

The AGO conveyed that Maughan's exploitation of the victim was so terrifying that "he thought he might die" prompting him to leave a note containing his sister's contact information.

Initially, Maughan received a 20-month jail term at Warwick Crown Court after admitting to robbery and fraud in June.

However, the AGO challenged the leniency of Maughan's sentence, leading to its review by the Court of Appeal.

On Thursday, judges ruled to increase Maughan's total sentence to four-and-a-half years.

Lord Justice Singh, accompanied by Mrs Justice May and Mr Justice Griffiths, remarked: "The victim described how during the incidents he had been scared and could not sleep."

"He thought he was going to get stabbed and killed."

"He described the offender as having a 'Jekyll and Hyde personality, it would just change so quickly'."

In court, Daniel Bishop, speaking for the AGO, underscored that the original sentence did not sufficiently recognise the "serious psychological harm" inflicted on the victim.

The barrister highlighted that Maughan's visits to the victim over a period from April to June 2022 took a heavy toll, according to the AGO's written statements: "As a result of the offender taking so much money from him, he panicked he would be unable to pay his bills."

Further distress caused to the victim included deprivation of food and essentials, emotional and psychological struggles, impaired sleep due to haunting thoughts of the offender's actions, and being compelled to leave his home and Rugby: "When the victim visited Rugby, he would visibly shake and say that he feels scared."

The devastation extended to losing his joy, friendships, and independence.

Representing the defendant, Nick Devine conceded that "this was a lenient sentence, a light sentence, it was not one that was unduly, or excessively, lenient".

Defending Maughan's actions as fuelled by his youth, at ages 19 to 20, and his addiction: "Maughan was between 19 and 20 years old at the time of the offences being committed and they were all committed in a relatively short period of time, when he was in the throes of drug addiction, which puts the spree of offending into some context."

The court was reminded that Maughan was already serving a 32-month term for multiple serious assault charges at the time of sentencing in June.

Lord Justice Singh extended Maughan's sentence after it was revealed that following the victim leaving his home, a "handwritten note" detailing next of kin information was discovered by his sister while cleaning, indicating he feared for his life during the incidents with the attacker.

The judge declared: "She was heartbroken to think that her brother had been so scared during the incidents with the offender that he thought he might die."

Post-trial, Detective Constable Gemma Kirby from Warwickshire Police expressed approval over the increased sentence, commenting: "We welcome the increase in Maughan's sentence for what was a horrific attack on a vulnerable man in his own home."

DC Kirby further noted: "The sentence handed down by the Court of Appeal is a better reflection of the severity of the crime and impact it had on the victim."

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