A father-and-son team of rogue roofers who targeted elderly and vulnerable people have been convicted of fraud offences following an investigation by Dudley Trading Standards.
Jason William Jones, of Worcester Road, Stourport, and his son Jason Frederick Jones, of Power Station Road, Stourport, traded as J & J Roofing. Along with employee Simon Harris, also of Worcester Road, Stourport, the pair cold-called three neighbouring properties in Stourbridge in May 2019 and persuaded the homeowners to undertake unnecessary roofing work.
After receiving an anonymous complaint, the Dudley Trading Standards team investigated and found the defendants at one of the properties. They told them to cease doing work and not to contact the owners of the properties again.
However, in August 2019, Jones senior returned to all three properties and told his victims that the Trading Standards investigation had been completed. He claimed that he was owed for work done, and one of the victims handed over a cheque for £1,000.
In August 2019 J & J Roofing also cold-called a retired homeowner in Redditch and told her that her chimney needed to be repointed and work needed to be done to make the ridge tiles safe. They also cleaned the roof, despite the homeowner asking them not to. When she visited her bank to transfer the money, she was advised to contact police, and the case was passed to Worcester Council Trading Standards.
At no point were any of the victims provided with information from the defendants about their cancellation rights.
Following a joint prosecution by Dudley and Worcester Councils, the three were sentenced at Wolverhampton Crown Court on November 7.
Jason William Jones was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to three offences under the Fraud Act 2006.
Hi son, Jason Frederick Jones, of Power Station Road, Stourport, was given an 18-month sentence, suspended for two years, with 150 hours of unpaid work and 15 RAR days after also pleading guilty to three offences under the Fraud Act 2006.
Harris, who pleaded guilty to an offence under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, was given an 18-month community order with 90 hours of unpaid work.
Jason William Jones was also ordered to pay £7,250 compensation to each of the four victims and £20,000 court costs.
Criminal Behaviour Orders were made against the father and son prohibiting them from cold-calling, carrying out work without a written quote, carrying out work before 14 days after a written quote is provided and also instructing anyone else to do any of these three acts on their behalf. Both pleaded guilty to one offence under the Fraud Act in relation to the Worcestershire victim.
Councillor James Clinton, cabinet member for public health at Dudley Council, said: “This is another excellent example of our Trading Standards team working to protect residents from rogue traders.
“This prosecution should be a reminder we will not hesitate to take action against dishonest traders who prey on residents and think they are beyond the law.”
