‘LOW-LIFE’ GANG PREYED ON THE ELDERLY
Bangor gran among victims
A ROGUE roofer who was at the centre of a gang who preyed on vulnerable elderly people and carried out unnecessary or inadequate work at their homes has been locked up for eight years.
Steven Charles Jones, 38, of Maeshyfryd Road, Llangefni, was said by a judge at Caernarfon Crown Court to have acted in a devious manner and swindled four people of £721,756. He had pleaded guilty to fraud charges at an earlier hearing.
The offences centred around “extortionate” costs for roofing and building work carried out in Bangor, Holyhead, Benllech and Penrhyn Bay near Llandudno.
One of the victims, Meinwen Parry, 89, of College Road, Bangor, who has since died, was the grandmother of Hollywood actor Jude Law. She lost £60,916.20. Another victim, a retired school caretaker from Penrhyn Bay, lost £656,310 for substandard roofing work on his bungalow. Two other victims lost smaller amounts, the court heard.
Judge Huw Rees said the level of greed shown was “outstanding”.
Bedwyr FÔn Roberts, 34, of Queens Avenue, Bangor, an associate of Jones, was jailed for six years. He had also pleaded guilty to charges of money laundering involving £680,000.
In all 10 people were charged with offences relating to the fraud and two others were jailed.
Daniel Lee Taylor, 30, of Isgraig, Llangefni, also pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud of £5,200 and £3,530.
He was said to have played a leading role in the fraud and was jailed for two years.
Roberts’ partner, Caren Wyn Owen, 51, of the same address, had denied transferring criminal property of £13,521 and laundering £55,123 but was found guilty and jailed for 20 months.
The judge said her criminal behaviour had carried on for a period of time and more than £68,000 had passed through her account.
Jones’ partner, Amanda Jane Jones, was found guilty of money laundering and jailed for nine months.
The sentence was suspended for 12 months and she must carry out 150 hours unpaid work.
Macauley Lewis, 20, Newry Street, Holyhead was convicted of converting criminal property – a £900 cheque – and was jailed for four months suspended for 12 months.
He must carry out 150 hours unpaid work.
Sean Parlour, of Berwyn Street, Llangollen, pleaded not guilty to laundering £8,000 but was found guilty.
He was jailed for nine months, suspended for a year, and ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work. Christopher Pollitt, 33, of Thornley Avenue, Rhyl, denied converting criminal property of £7,000 but was found guilty.
He was jailed for nine months, suspended for a year, and ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.
David Wyn Cashman, 27, of Seiriol Road, Bangor, was found guilty of three money laundering charges and jailed for nine months. The jail term was suspended for 12 months and Cashman was ordered to carry out 150 hours unpaid work.
Mark Nicholas Williams, 33, Bro Rhyddallt, Llanrug, was handed a 28-week sentence, suspended for 12 months, and was told to carry out 150 hours unpaid work.
Outlining the prosecution case, Elen Owen said the matter came to light when Trading Standards Officers were alerted by Ms Parry’s bank to the possibility she may be the target of rogue traders.
A building surveyor checked Ms Parry’s house and concluded no major works of any significance had been undertaken to the property and there was nothing to suggest the roof had been recovered since the late 1990s.
Steven Jones’ fingerprints were found on a cheque and he was arrested and interviewed. Ms Owen said: “The only pe rson the prosecution have evidence of committing this fraud is Steven Jones.
“It is accepted he may have been involved with others, however the prosecution case is that he played a leading role.”
Further inquiries led police and trading standards officers to the other victims.
Daniel Taylor was said to be a roofer who had worked alongside Steven Jones.
Bedwyr Roberts was arrested later and he admitted cashing cheques for someone he would not name because he was frightened.
He stated he did not know what the cheques were for.
Caryn Owen, his partner, had paid in some cheques and transferred the money to Roberts’ account.
Amanda Jane Jones had carried out similar activity.
Andrew McInnes, defending Steven Jones, said his client had enjoyed no benefit from the money with nearly all of it handed over to third parties.
“He was under a certain amount of pressure by others.
“There is no evidence he led a lavish lifestyle,” he said.
After the hearing Detective Constable Catherine Walker of North Wales Police said: “This case has demonstrated just how low some people will sink to exploit the vulnerable in our community.
“These were despicable acts where elderly, vulnerable people were deliberately targeted and deprived of their life savings.”
This case has demonstrated just how low some people will sink to exploit the vulnerable DET CON CATHERINE WALKER, NORTH WALES POLICE