Rogue builder conned customers out of £14k

A ROGUE builder who conned a string of customers out of £14,000 and came up with a raft of excuses when he failed to start work was jailed for 16 months last week.

A judge said the money was blown on drink and gambling.

Aron Roberts, 40, admitted a dozen offences including fraud and participating in fraudulent business at Caernarfon.

He was prosecuted by Gwynedd Council.

Caernarfon Crown Court heard eight customers had complained after handing over money to his building and roofing business.

Prosecuting barrister Jade Tufail said in all but one instance he hadn’t commenced work and that which was done needed remedial work.

Counsel said he’d been found on the website MyBuilder.

Thinking he was a legitimate trader, a retired couple accepted a quote for a conservatory and paid Roberts more than £7,000.

Only £150 had been refunded to them.

James Coutts, defending, said that Roberts had been drinking and gambling and he had acted dishonestly.

“He’s in a very different position now to that at the time,” the lawyer said.

Roberts had an “excellent” work ethic but then set up on his own.

“He traded properly for a period of time before finding himself in this difficult situation,” Mr Coutts said.

“He would wish to pay back the money if that’s possible.”

But Judge Timothy Petts declared: “Appropriate punishment in this case can only be achieved by immediate custody.”

No compensation was awarded because he said Roberts, now of Blackley, Manchester, had no money.

The judge told the defendant: “You have spent the money on drinking and gambling.”