A rogue builder has been sentenced to five years imprisonment following a successful prosecution carried out by Warwickshire County Council Trading Standards.
Adam Jones (age 50 of Grange Road Longford Coventry) offered roofing, gardening and general building work and targeted residents living in Warwickshire, Coventry and further afield. He traded under several names including Global Roofing, Rainbow Roofing and Drives and Landscape Gardening.
At the sentence hearing His Honour Judge Potter said that Jones was a fraudster who had ‘cynically exploited’ and ‘intimidated’ his victims, many of whom were very elderly and vulnerable, demanding they pay extortionate amounts of money for poor quality work that was sometimes not even needed! Jones attempted to charge his victims around £50,000, before eventually taking almost £30,000.
The investigation was launched after Jones door-knocked an elderly Kenilworth resident, offering to jet wash the moss off his roof. However, over the next few weeks Jones discovered further ‘problems’ with the roof including roof tiles, underfelt and guttering that needed to be removed and replaced and what he claimed was storm damage to tiles caused by a large branch. In a few short weeks, the resident had paid Jones over £26,000, his life savings, more than double the cost of a brand-new roof. Jones then falsely claimed he was moving to Australia to dissuade the resident from chasing him to try and get his money back.
A Chartered Surveyor, employed by Warwickshire Trading Standards examined the roof and concluded that work to remove the moss and replace the felt was unnecessary, the jet washing had in fact damaged the tiles, and that the costs far outweighed the value of the work undertaken.
Jones also targeted other elderly people charging one couple £3000 for four hours work, cutting down some trees in their garden (he later returned £1500 after they complained). Jones also tried to charge another elderly person £3430 for cutting back some trees and shrubs and replacing two fence panels, work that took only an hour and half. However, he left empty handed after relatives complained. Finally, he charged two more people hundreds of pounds each to pressure wash their driveways.
None of his victims received cancellation rights, which should be provided to everyone who employs someone offering work on the doorstep. This was despite being advised by Trading Standards to do so.
Despite being charged with fraud, Jones continued to offend. A Coventry resident was charged £1000 by Jones to prune a willow tree but Jones and his men, working without safety equipment, cut the tree in half, causing damage when it fell. When the resident then said he intended to have his garage demolished and rebuilt, Jones offered to do it for £16,000. The resident did not give him permission to carry out the work, but he started anyway, removing shrubs and trees from around the garage and leaving the householder feeling frustrated and overwhelmed. The following day the resident locked Jones out, but Jones claimed he has already hired an excavator and put down a ‘deposit’ on some concrete and demanded £250. The resident gave Jones £90, but Jones then said that he often worked in the local area and if he saw anyone else working on the garage, he and his men would ‘see them off’.
At Warwick Crown Court on Monday 23rd October 2023, Jones pleaded guilty to two offences under the Fraud Act 2006 and at Warwick Crown Court (Leamington Justice Centre) on Tuesday 16th January 2024, Jones was sentenced to five years imprisonment and handed a 20-year Criminal Behaviour Order. The order prohibits Jones from visiting the homes of consumers to tout for business or take money for goods or services.
His Honour Judge Potter also commended the efforts of Warwickshire County Council.
Jones had 17 previous convictions from courts across the country stretching back almost 20 years, including burglary and obtaining money by deception. He was also prosecuted by Leicestershire Trading Standards in 2017.
In mitigation Hannah Williams, representing Jones said that her client had pleaded guilty before the trial, that he had some health problems, and that he was tackling his alcohol problem.
Warwickshire County Councillor Andy Crump, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety said:
“This sentence is a warning that there are severe penalties for carrying out rogue trader activities.”
“I’m delighted that our Trading Standards Service has taken this action which seeks to protect some of our most elderly and vulnerable residents.”
“It is very difficult to tell a good trader from a bad one on the doorstep, so Trading Standards strongly urges residents not to buy from unexpected doorstep callers and keep their doors firmly closed.”
Report rogue traders to Warwickshire Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133. For more advice visit: https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/doorstepsellers