Bogus builders jailed for roof scam in Kent and Surrey
Three men who conned elderly people out of thousands of pounds by doing unnecessary and faulty roofing work have been jailed.
David James, 28, from Laburnum Avenue, Swanley, and brothers Emmanuel Arnold, 21, and Thomas Arnold, 19, from Lower Road, Hextable, pleaded not guilty.
Kent Police said one of their victims paid £37,000 for work which should have cost £769.
The trio were sentenced following a trial at Canterbury Crown Court.
James was sentenced to three years and five months; Emmanuel Arnold four years and six months and Thomas Arnold was given a three-year sentence.
'Easier to rip off'
Det Con Tom Wilson said: "Over many months, a number of people were cold-called by people offering to carry out work on their homes in Kent and Surrey.
"The amounts charged and the towns visited differed but the story was the same - elderly and vulnerable people targeted to pay for poor quality work."
He added: "When we interviewed James and asked why the group was targeting mainly elderly people for work, he said 'I suppose they're easier to rip off'."
Two other people, Kristofer Batchelor, 21, and Patience Mobey, 19, both from Lower Road, Hextable, were also found guilty of concealing the proceeds of crime.
They were sentenced to 120 hours of community service and ordered to pay £1,000 costs.