Father and son duo are jailed after pocketing £136,000 in Argos 'get-rich-quick' con returning cheap irons with fake receipts

• Father and son received three and two year sentences respectively over 'plot' 

A father and son have been jailed after pocketing £136k in a 'get-rich-quick' scheme - returning cheap irons to Argos with forged receipts.

Paul Mathews, 62, and Dean Mathews, 40, took back or exchanged as many as 528 items at stores over a period of some three years, police said.

The duo, from Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, would buy reconditioned Tefal irons - worth £400 new - at heavily discounted prices.

They would then take the irons to Argos stores and ask for the money back or a gift card.

The duo were caught out in February 2024 when staff at chain raised suspicions over Paul's activity.

Upon further inspection, police uncovered an 'elaborate plot' they said was aimed at making 'as much money as possible'.

City of London detectives linked the men's cars to CCTV footage at different Argos stores which matched up with fraudulent transactions.

And a number of items, including Tefal irons kept in an Argos carrier bag, were seized from their addresses.

Upon their first arrest, the pair were bailed under the condition that they could not visit an Argos store - but they continued their criminal spree less than 24 hours after being released.

They were arrested again in May 2024 and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud and money laundering.

A search of their home address in June uncovered bank cards linked to the Argos fraud hidden inside a clock, police said.

Nineteen new offences were put to them during interview, and both men were remanded in custody due to their repeat offending.

During their sentencing at Norwich Crown Court on Tuesday, Paul was jailed for three years and his son Dean was jailed for two.

Det Chf Insp Lee Parish, of City of London Police, said: 'This was an elaborate plot with a very simple objective - make as much money as possible.

'Both men will now serve time in prison for their actions, which should serve as a lesson to those being tempted by illegal get-rich-quick schemes.

'You will eventually be found out, and we will pursue you until justice is served.

'Retail fraud has a huge impact on a very human level.

'The impact of this fraud has a human element when you consider that businesses rely on profitability to pay their employees' salaries, health benefits, and health insurance.'

Police said they became involved in the case after Argos raised suspicions about Paul Matthews.

City of London Police's specialist Fraud Operations team were ultimately brought in to investigate, pinning the scam on the duo.

The men initially responded 'no comment' through police interviews after their arrests in February.