'Despicable' rogue builders from Redruth jailed for ripping off elderly victims in Cornwall

Johnny Jones, 48, and Nelson Richards, 51, both of Boscarn Park, Tregajorran, near Redruth stood accused of inflating prices, shoddy workmanship and unnecessary repairs and of specifically targeting older residents.

Nelson Richards was sentenced to five years while Johnny Jones was sentenced to three and a half years.

Geoff Brown, Cornwall Council cabinet member for communities called the crimes the "most distressing type of offending" investigated by the Council’s Trading Standards team.

"Tricking people into having work done, often causing more problems than they solve, and then conning their customers by charging vastly inflated prices is an appalling way to behave. But to deliberately target home-owners, who in later life are still trying to live an independent life, is despicable beyond belief.

I am relieved that my officers have been able to bring this spate of crime to an end through their persistent, professional investigation and I hope that the sentences imposed by the Crown Court will serve as a warning to anyone else tempted to target our more vulnerable residents.”

Cornwall Council’s Trading Standards officers investigated 17 incidents, including four where the victims were believed to have been targeted by both defendants. The average age of the victims is around 75 years, with the oldest victim being a lady now aged 89 and living alone.

The offences occurred between the March 28, 2012 and the August 11, 2014, and the Council’s prosecution actions were first started in April 2013.

Both defendants have previous convictions for fraud and theft and Richards is currently in custody having been recalled to prison in November 2012 following an early release on licence in February 2012.

In April 2006 Richards was jailed for seven years (later increased to ten years upon appeal), along with three of his henchmen.

Together he and his gang cheated 25 elderly people across the region out of more than £660,000 between 2003 and 2005. In August 2009 his prison term was extended by another four years, for failing to adhere to a compensation order to pay back £569,869.

Five others were also jailed in December 2007 for criminal actions linked to Richards, and subsequently ordered to pay back a total of £184,182 in criminal gain between them.

Jones was also previously convicted at Truro Crown Court on 24 February 2012 for three charges of fraud and theft, relating to goods that he hadn’t paid for. He was given a nine month prison sentence, suspended for two years, together with 160 hours of community service. He was also ordered to pay compensation totalling £3,563 to his three victims.

In August 2014 Jones was remanded in custody for offending whilst on bail during the course of the Trading Standards investigation and subsequent court proceedings.

He had been arrested the previous day from the home of his latest victims, a retired couple in their 70s who have since had significant problems with their roof leaking due to shoddy work carried out by Jones. Jones has remained in custody ever since, pending the outcome of this case.