A ROGUE builder 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, has been jailed for 16 months after conning three victims into paying a total of £25,850 for work to their roofs between March and May.

The 22-year-old pleaded guilty to five charges of fraud and two counts of entering into a money laundering agreement when he appeared at Lewes Crown Court on Monday December 12.

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.

A surveyor could not find evidence of repairs having been carried out and the little work that had been done had compromised the roof leaving the homeowner with a repair bill for the damage caused.

Another 96-year-old victim paid Jones £9,000 by cheque but the payment was stopped when attempts by Jones to pay the cheque into his partner’s account raised concerns with the bank, who reversed the transaction and returned the cheque.

It was finally a call from a 69-year-old victim to the Citizen’s Advice consumer helpline that resulted in Sussex Police arresting Jones.

The woman had been told that the mortar on ridge tiles needed replacement and some repair work was needed to the corner of the roof but Jones later told her that an entire section of roof needed to be replaced because it was rotten.

She paid a total of £10,850, but became concerned at how quickly the work was completed and the small amount of tiles and rotten wood she saw being removed and taken away and called the Citizen’s Advice helpline.

Investigations by East Sussex Trading Standards found the work carried out on this property was unnecessary, overpriced and substandard.

The victim now faces a further bill for more than £1,000 to correct the work.

Cllr Chris Dowling, East Sussex County Council lead member for community services, said: “These were despicable acts which have no doubt taken their toll on three vulnerable residents, two of whom have been left thousands of pounds out of pocket.”

East Sussex County Council will be seeking compensation for the victims and a confiscation hearing is due to take place on May 15.