A FRAUDSTAR who conned pensioners in a roofing scam has been ordered to pay back a large chunk of his ill-gotten gains.

The former cocaine addict tricked elderly residents into paying up to £10,250 for unnecessary work on their homes by claiming to be the son of a dead builder who had previously worked for them.

William Jones, of Butts Field in Hailsham, was jailed for 16 months back in December after conning three victims into paying a total of £25,850 for work to their roofs.

He was prosecuted by Easy Sussex County Council.

He has now been ordered to pay back more than £15,000 in compensation to a 69-year old woman from Heathfield and 81-year-old man from Midhurst, whom he conned out of a total of £18,150.

In a confiscation hearing at Hove Crown Court, the 22-year-old, currently serving time at HMP Lewes, said he had passed £12,000 of the money to two unnamed associates and used the rest to fund a four-gram-a-day cocaine habit costing up to £400 a day.

However, this account was not accepted by Judge Christine Laing, who awarded a confiscation order of £15,021.61, comprising £2,000 of his share, the £12,000 he had passed to associates and £1,021.61 of cash, jewellery and other assets seized from the defendant.

Cllr Bill Bentley, East Sussex County Council lead member for communities and safety, said: “This is a tremendous result for the victims of these despicable crimes, but the compensation won’t make up for the toll these offences have taken on their lives.

“Jones deliberately targeted elderly and vulnerable victims, conning them out of substantial amounts of money they could ill afford to pay, for work they didn’t need.

“I’d like to commend the unstinting efforts of our Trading Standards officers, who work tirelessly to bring offenders to justice and to prevent others from falling victim.”

In December, Jones received seven concurrent 16-month jail sentences, after admitting five counts of fraud and two counts of entering into a money-laundering agreement between March and May last year.

Jones approached each victim claiming to be the son of a builder who had passed away and who had carried out previous work on their properties.

He told one 81-year-old victim that, while carrying out initial repairs, he had found substantial problems with his roof.

Having taken £6,000 from him, Jones claimed he needed to go to hospital and would return to complete the work but never did.

In addition to the two victims he must pay compensation, he tricked a third victim, aged 96, into paying him £9,000 but the cheque was stopped by bank staff.

If he does not pay back the money in full within three months, Jones will face an additional 12-month jail term and will have to pay eight per cent annual interest on the balance until the full amount is paid. Anyone who believes they, or someone they know, has been a victim of scammers, or is aware of a scam happening, is asked to report it by calling the Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 040506.