Stourport father and son rogue traders sentenced for defrauding elderly and vulnerable victims - racking up £49k court bill
A scheming father and son duo who pressured elderly and vulnerable people to get work done that they didn't need have pleaded guilty to fraud - and racked up a £49,000 court bill in the process.
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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.
In May 2019 the trio cold-called three neighbouring properties in Stourbridge and persuaded the owners to have roofing work done that they did not need. The work involved cleaning and painting the homeowners' roof tiles.
Dudley trading standards investigated following an anonymous complaint alleging elderly people were being targeted in the area, and found the defendants still at one of the properties.
They advised the trader to stop the work and not to contact the owners of the three properties again.
Despite the warning, Jones senior returned to all three properties three months later and told them the trading standards investigation had been completed and they each owed £1,000 for work done.
One of the victims handed over a cheque for £1,000.
Later that same month, they cold called a retired homeowner in Redditch and said there was weed growing from her chimney and it needed to be repointed, and ridge tiles made safe. They also cleaned her roof despite her asking them not to.
When she visited her bank to transfer the money, she was advised to contact police, and the case was then passed to Worcester Council Trading Standards.
None of the victims were provided with information from the defendants about their cancellation rights.
The pair pleaded guilty to an offence under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.
Jason William Jones was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to three offences under the Fraud Act 2006.
He was also ordered to pay £7,250 compensation to each of the four victims and £20,000 court costs.
Jason Frederick Jones 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.
Simon Harris was given an 18-month community order with 90 hours of unpaid work.
Following a joint prosecution by Dudley and Worcester councils, the three were sentenced at Wolverhampton Crown Court on November 7.
Criminal Behaviour Orders were made against Jones senior and junior 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, 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."
