Two rogue builders from Redruth will be sentenced at Truro Crown Court tomorrow at 10am after admitting a spate of frauds between 2012 and 2014.

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

Nelson Richards will also be sentenced for a further fraud involving another elderly victim in her 80s; a conviction secured by the Crown Prosecution Service on behalf of Devon & Cornwall Police back in September 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 10 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.

Meanwhile, Jones was also previously convicted at Truro Crown Court on February 24 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.