A BROMSGROVE fraudster has been jailed alongside his brother for heading a complex computer repair scam, involving hundreds of fake firms, which conned consumers nationwide.

Yassar Rashid, of Nailers Close, Stoke Heath, conspired with his brother Amir, from Sherwood Mews in Hall Green, to place dozens of adverts in Yellow Pages and Thomson Locals for seemingly-different computer repair companies across England and Wales.

Claiming to trade under business names like 'Matt's Computers', 'Adam's Computers' or 'Computer Repairs Cheltenham', the pair would advertise a local telephone number and partial address to give the impression they had a shop nearby.

When customers contacted them, the brothers would send out an 'engineer' to take the computer away, often 'holding it to ransom' until the fees demanded were paid.

They admitted engaging in a 'dishonest pricing structure', falsely describing parts installed and using and installing illegal software.

Victims from as far afield as North Wales, Leeds and Essex complained about the firm not returning computers, high charges and pirate software being installed on their devices.

The Rashid brothers both pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud by false representation when they appeared at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday (October 6), following a lengthy investigation by National Trading Standards.

In sentencing, Judge Roderick Henderson said they had used deliberately dishonest methods to frustrate vulnerable consumers.

He sentenced Yassar, age 39, to 18 months and Amir, age 33, to three years in prison.

Speaking after the ruling, chair of National Trading Standards Lord Toby Harris said: "These criminals took advantage of people who were simply looking for a solution to their computer problems.

"Their criminal actions left consumers out of pocket and with computers that in many cases had illegal software installed.

"I hope this conviction and sentence sends a message that National Trading Standards will not hesitate to bring to justice criminals who defraud consumers."