Licence blunder sees infamous ‘cash-for-gold’ buyer return

Thursday 09 September 2021

Ministers are looking at tightening their business licence procedures after a travelling ‘cash for gold’ businessman – who was previously found to have undervalued items worth thousands locally – was given permission to trade on the island this week against Government policy.

Brian Chesters (otherwise known as Kevin Argent) has returned to the island this week, asking islanders to visit him at the L’Horizon bring him unwanted watches, jewellery, military medals, silver trinkets and vintage instruments for valuation and a possible sale.

The trip comes 10 years after he was found to have valued gold items worth thousands for mere hundreds in a media sting coordinated by local antique dealer Stephen Cohu in 2011. There was no suggestion of wrongdoing, but local dealers said it showed why it was important for islanders to always get a second opinion.

While there were no legal controls in place at the time to prevent this type of travelling trade from occurring, the new Control of Housing and Work Law introduced the following year stipulated that, in deciding whether to grant a business licence, the Minister should consider the impact on Jersey’s economy, and “in the case of a hawker’s licence, whether the applicant is a fit and proper person.” 

The Government also decided to make it a policy not to grant permissions to ‘cash-for-gold’ events to go ahead.

Challenged on this policy when one slipped through the net in 2018, an email seen by Express from former Population Office Director Paul Bradbury confirmed that “our general position is not to issue permissions to events of this nature”.

But some islanders recently noticed flyers through their doors advertising a four-day event due to go ahead at the L’Horizon this week, hosted by Brian Chesters.

On the day of the first event on Tuesday, Stephen Cohu raised the alarm in a Facebook post, telling islanders “this is NOT sour grapes, this is a serious warning” before advising them to get a second opinion from a local dealer on any valuables they own before selling them. 

He further advised: “If you sell gold make sure he tells you the weight and the price per gram, at least £12.50 for 9ct, Krugerrands are worth at least £1200 and sovereigns £270. Silver should be around 40p a gram for scrap.” 

The post has since been shared more than 200 times, with numerous islanders sharing thanks for the warning and sharing previous sales horror stories.

Asked by Express why this event had been allowed to go ahead contrary to policy, a Government statement approved by the Chief Minister read: “Applications for business licences are considered on their own individual merits, and we cannot comment on specifics of those applications. 

"However, this matter will be referred to Ministers for re-consideration, including enhancing formal policy for these types of activities”