Web-based recruitment scammer convicted

A conman who ran a fraudulent recruitment website has been convicted and ordered to pay more than £20,000 by Swansea Crown Court.

Adrian Michael Farmer, 58, who was based in Llandysul, was found guilty of charging people up to £124 for falsely claiming that he could find them work overseas.

Farmer was also banned in November 2003 from running an employment agency for 10 years after he was sentenced to a year's imprisonment for obtaining money by deception in 2001.

Farmer's website, which has now been shut down, indicated that he could find people jobs overseas and charged for access to job information.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) made an application to Swansea Magistrates' Court for the case to be passed to the Crown Court for sentencing and for section 70 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2000 to be considered by the Courts. 

The Court decided that Farmer did benefit from the proceeds of crime and ordered him to pay a confiscation order of £20,387.86, which included compensation to two workers.

In addition the Court sentenced Farmer to a fine of £2,500 for three charges of operating his employment agency while prohibited by the DTI.

Employment Relations Minister Jim Fitzpatrick praised the move by magistrates and hailed it as a victory against rogue employment agents.

"This prosecution underlines our message to rogue agents that we will not hesitate to act against any agency that wrongly and wilfully ignores the law or rips off workers," he said.

"It is essential that employment agencies comply with the legislation and the DTI will continue to take whatever action is necessary, including prosecution and prohibition, to protect workers against these illegal practices."

Farmer's defence informed the Court that he might have to sell his home to comply with the orders of the Court.

Under section 6(2) it is a criminal offence to demand or directly or indirectly receive from any person any fee for finding them or seeking to find them work.