Faringdon – Face revealed of fraudster jailed after betraying friend

Paul Westcott fled the UK in 2019, only returning in 2024 when he was told he was being investigated.

The 56-year-old, of Coxwell Road, Faringdon, was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on August 11.

He had been due to stand trial back in May, but pleaded guilty to stealing three Mercedes cars and £42,000 from the Hrycko family between October and December 2019.

He also pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud by false representation to Michael Hrycko relating to a Mercedes C220d, Range Rover and a Mercedes A180.

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Paul Westcott (Image: TVP)

Richard Bendall, prosecuting, told the court that Westcott was purporting to be a legitimate car dealer.

The court heard that he had previously worked for Mercedes-Benz and had a long-standing friendship with the victim Mr Hrycko.

In 2019, Westcott offered Mr Hrycko three new vehicles in exchange for three part-exchange vehicles and £42,000.

A delivery date was agreed, but this was never fulfilled. The money was also never returned.

By December 2019, Westcott was uncontactable, as by this time he had fled to Cyprus.

In a message, he claimed the cars had been taken by an aggressive creditor. However this was a lie.

He’d actually sold the vehicles on.

Westcott was jailed for a total of 54 months.