Gazette readers help police secure six-year jail term for conman

Police investigating 47-year-old Noah Smith became aware of just how widespread his activities were after a number of Antiques Trade Gazette readers who had fallen victim to him responded to an appeal in the paper last August.

As well as tricking antiques dealers, Smith, formerly of Prubrook, near Portsmouth, took a solid silver tea set which was a treasured anniversary present to the late wife of an 83-year-old widower. Smith took the tea set after pushing his way past the pensioner when his victim opened the door to his bungalow in Cardigan, Wales. Smith also took a gold signet ring, throwing a total of £295 into the elderly man’s lap.

Prosecuting counsel Derwent Hope said that the ring and tea set, which had cost more than £2000, had been recovered.

In another incident, Smith tricked a Fareham dealer out of a number of antiques including two valuable clocks. He said he would sell the items, valued at more than £6000, but he never paid him.

A hotel manager at Droxford fell victim, too, lending Smith £1400 to buy furniture on the understanding that the money would be repaid within three days. Smith checked out of the hotel without paying up.

Having earlier changed his plea to guilty, Smith appeared for sentencing on Wednesday last week, when three additional deception offences were addressed involving more than £3000, and a further 12 offences, involving items valued at more than £12,000, were taken into account.
The court heard that Smith had absconded from a bail hostel and while on the run travelled the country committing offences at many places, including Oxford, Leicester, Leek in Staffordshire, Camberley in Surrey, Eton, Haywards Heath in Sussex and Hay on Wye.

DC Neil Cussen, who worked on the investigation, called Smith a “professional confidence trickster who ruthlessly deceived people working in the antiques trade and the public”.

He praised Gazette readers, who had reported a series of crimes involving cheques and other offences. “We are extremely pleased with the sentence and take this opportunity to thank readers of the Antiques Trade Gazette as a number of them did ring after reading our appeal in the paper. I would continue to urge anybody who feels they have been the victim of this man to still come forward and contact me on 01256 405006.”