Rogue trader Lee Bodie conned his victims out of thousands of pounds and spun a web of lies - including a shocking claim he had been hospitalised with testicular cancer. Lying Bodie, who operated three different companies for groundwork or building services, duped nine people out of their hard-saved cash to the tune of £32,780, making fake promises of building works which hardly ever got off the ground.
In one case, Nottingham Crown Court heard Bodie, who answered requests on a builder website to source reputable builders, carried out work at a woman's home to an unacceptable standard - but he told the homeowner the cancer lie - something she found to be untrue when she saw him in B&Q.
Bodie was jailed for 27 months on Thursday (March 23) on 10 charges of fraud, which he pleaded guilty to at an earlier hearing. The victim who was met with the cancer claim had advertised for work to convert her summer house. She got in touch with a company, and one of the men who attended her property was Bodie.
She was quoted more than £7,500. The unsuspecting woman transferred a deposit of £2,500 - but never got a receipt - despite chasing one. Little progress was made but Bodie did visit again.
When challenged, his reason was the hospital appointment, an issue with suppliers and a broken down van - and how he was admitted to hospital for a disagnosis of testicular cancer. Frustrated through a lack of progress, she duly asked for a refund, and threatened to go to police.
She eventually did, and an officer went to Bodie's home. He claimed he was unable to provide a receipt as his bank account was subject to fraudulent activity. No refund ever emerged for the work.
Her victim impact statement revealed her husband had had a heart attack and triple heart bypass. After Bodie stole the £2,500, her husband could not cope with the stress, and she did not think their marriage of 42 years was going to survive.
With her husband subsequently diagnosed with depression, his wife said she "hated Bodie for what he put us through". Another victim described him as "disgusting" and a man with no conscience, while a third, from Carlton, who advertised for replacement rotten gates, got a visit from Bodie and another man.
Bodie said the gates were a "health and safety hazard" - and asked for £800 to replace them. She transferred the cash upfront but never saw it again or new gates. More excuses were made up by Bodie.
Now on disability benefit and living in a council house, Bodie was the victim of an alleged assault and now lives with PTSD. He was stabbed in the heart, abdomen, and twice in the arm, leading to a heart attack, blood transfusion, and two months in intensive care - post his offending spree.
"It was an attack of some severity," said Andrew Wesley, who has represented Bodie throughout. "He is awaiting surgery for nerve damage to his left arm".
The case was delayed because he had the pressure of a trial last year over the attack. Bodie, who lives with his partner in Roman Drive, Basford, was quizzed extensively over his convictions, and the defendant in the trial was found not guilty, the court heard.
In 2022, Bodie featured in a Nottinghamshire Live article headlined Meet the youth workers tackling Nottingham crime before it escalates - where Bodie, the youth outreach leader for the Pythian Club, which tackles anti-social behaviour among youngsters head-on, spoke about the reaction in the community the outreach work had received. He no longer volunteers with the club.
He told our reporter: “The kids like what we’re doing around here, we’re essentially their voice. Most of the time, we treat them like adults as long as they give us the same respect and they like that.”
Now he has seemingly turned his back on crime, Mr Wesley spoke of the work his client had previously done for the Pythian Club across Nottingham as a volunteer. He is no longer associated with the club.
"He has made a positive decision to put something back into the community," said Mr Wesley. But Judge Mark Watson said the 27-month sentence could not be suspended, and dad-to-be Bodie, 39, previously of Croft Road, Keyworth, had left his victims to make reparation - an aggravating feature in the case.
The judge said the offending was over a 22-month period, there were nine separate victims from whom he had taken more than £32,000. He made a confiscation order for the sum but Bodie's assets are zero, so he can only pay a nominal sum of £1.
The Pythian Club has said Bodie is no longer associated with them.
"At the time when we first met Lee Bodie, we understood him to be a victim of knife crime looking to turn his experience into something positive in raising awareness of the effects knife crime has with loved ones, children, family, and the victim themselves.
"When allegations were raised regarding Lee Bodie's conduct elsewhere, he was put on immediate suspension with the mutual decision to go separate ways."
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