A teenaged boy from Chiswick is reportedly being pursued by both angry creditors and his gran after setting up an alleged web site con.

According to a report in the Daily Mirror, the boy is accused of setting up a business in his bedroom which conned people into buying cheap plasma screens which never got delivered.

The boy's entrepreneurial activities started at local school car boot sales selling stationery. He then branched out onto the web and persuaded shoppers to part with £20,000 worth of cheques and postal orders. He was living with his grandmother at the time but soon the business was large enough to warrant the hiring of offices and two members of staff. He left school telling his father that he was being tutored at home.

As disappointed customers tried to get their money back from him he was forced to hire a bodyguard for his personal safety.

A court has heard claims that he left his new office owing £8,000 in rent and took on more space. The police were called after the landlord of the second offices claimed he had left without paying.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been arrested on fraud and deception charges and bailed until April.

His grandmother is reported as saying, "He is an angel and never been in trouble. I'm going to kill him when I get hold of him."

January 24, 2005