A Bexhill tradesman who defrauded 25 people out of nearly £30,000 through bogus chimney sweeping work has been jailed.
Adam Reid, 40, of Dorset Road, Bexhill, was the owner of SCS Installations (Safe Chimney Sweep) and carried out work on homes across Sussex. He was sentenced to 30 months in prison at Lewes Crown Court on Tuesday, 17 June.
Reid’s fraudulent activity began in November 2022 and continued until February 2025, despite earlier concerns raised in December 2023.
Trusted Tradesman Turned Fraudster
Reid had previously built a solid reputation in the community and held memberships with various trade bodies — which he continued to falsely claim even after his accreditations lapsed.
His usual pattern involved:
- Quoting for work and collecting upfront deposits
- Promising to complete the job
- Then becoming evasive and failing to carry out the work
Victims were often told false excuses such as illness, family emergencies, or issues with his van. Many were long-standing customers who initially gave him the benefit of the doubt.
Arrest, Reoffending, and Sentencing
Reid was first arrested on 16 October 2024 and released on bail. However, he went on to reoffend, leading to a second arrest on 4 April 2025, when he was charged and remanded in custody.
Investigators later discovered his financial troubles were linked to excessive gambling and drug use.
He was charged with:
- 19 counts of fraud by false representation
- 1 count of fraudulent trading as a sole trader
Reid pleaded guilty to all charges at Lewes Crown Court on 2 May. In addition to his prison sentence, proceedings are now underway under the Proceeds of Crime Act to recover stolen funds.
Police Statement
PC Holly Elliott, who led the investigation, said:
“Adam Reid betrayed the trust of his victims, using their money to try and fix his own financial issues.
What started with one report uncovered the true scale of Reid’s offending, showing a committed offender with no regard for his victims.
This has been a complex investigation and I would like to thank all involved for helping to bring him to justice.”
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