Shepton Mallet debt adviser jailed over £29,000 fraud

By Laura Linham 24th Sep 2026

Local News by Laura Linham 3 hours ago

A Shepton Mallet debt adviser has been jailed after stealing more than £29,000 from a widow who had trusted him to clear her outstanding debts.

Paul Johns, 61, of Prestleigh Road, was sentenced to 30 months in prison at Taunton Crown Court on Monday, 21 September, after previously pleading guilty to fraud by abuse of position.

Johns was working as a self-employed debt management adviser when the woman handed him the money following the unexpected death of her husband.

Rather than paying off the debts as agreed, Johns kept the money and forged documents to convince her the payments had been made.

The fraud was eventually uncovered when the woman discovered a County Court Judgment had been registered against her because the debts remained outstanding.

Detective Inspector Dan Watts, from the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit, said the woman had been particularly vulnerable following her husband's death and was already facing significant financial pressure.

He said: "Johns exploited her trust, stealing money that had been provided to clear her debts and then attempting to conceal his actions through forged correspondence."

Johns had a previous conviction for fraud, and DI Watts said he believed the sentence imposed by the court was appropriate.

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He added: "Fraud is far from a victimless crime. Victims can suffer significant financial, emotional and psychological harm, with the effects often lasting long after the offence itself has ended."

The South West Regional Organised Crime Unit said work would now continue with Avon and Somerset Police on confiscation proceedings in an attempt to recover as much of the stolen money as possible.