Two heartless conmen have been locked up for fleecing a retired couple of a whopping £33,200 in a cruel roofing scam. The fraud left the couple’s bungalow bare and exposed to the elements.
Joseph Ellis, 21, and Dave McEvoy, 51, were sentenced to two years and three months in Swansea Crown Court after admitting fraud by false representation against the vulnerable pensioners in their 70s and 80s.
Cheap Roof Clean Turns Into Nightmare Scam
What was meant to be a simple £1,250 roof cleaning job spiralled into a disaster. Ellis’s firm, Trustwise Roofing Ltd, started with power-washing the roof last summer but quickly fabricated problems to extort more cash.
- First, they falsely claimed multiple tiles needed replacing, adding £1,700 to the bill.
- Next, they insisted the whole roof needed replacing at a staggering £12,500.
- They then claimed the supporting beams were faulty, demanding further costly repairs.
With tiles ripped off and their home open to the weather, the terrified couple felt trapped and kept paying as the fraudsters drained their savings.
Bank Account Drained, Home Left Naked
The scam didn’t stop there. Ellis and McEvoy demanded an eye-watering £16,000 for wall repairs, later dropping it to £13,000. By then, the couple’s bank account was empty.
When funds ran dry, the conmen coldly suggested the couple remortgage their home to pay for fake repairs. Then, they abandoned the job altogether, leaving the house vulnerable. Thankfully, local roofers stepped in free of charge to make the property weatherproof.
Shock Findings and DNA Evidence
An independent inspection revealed the scam’s truth. The original clean should have cost just £700-£800. Most of the work was unnecessary or outright fabricated to swindle money.
Police cracked the case using a Lucozade bottle found in the scammer’s van, linking Ellis’s DNA directly to the fraud. Tracing bank transfers showed the stolen cash was shuffled between the pair to cover their tracks.
Judge Slams ‘Rogue Traders’ with Criminal Pasts
“The phrase rogue traders doesn’t even begin to describe what you are,” snarled Judge Paul Thomas KC. “Ruthless and cynical exploitation of vulnerable elderly people.”
Ellis—already serving a suspended sentence for burglary and firearm possession—had three months added for breaching it. McEvoy’s record included attempted vehicle theft. Neither showed remorse.
Despite plea discounts, both were sentenced to 27 months, serving half before possible release.
Warning to Vulnerable Homeowners
South Wales Police urge homeowners to beware rogue tradespeople. Always get multiple quotes, verify credentials, and avoid paying large sums upfront. Elderly homeowners should seek advice from family or trusted friends.
This case sends a clear message: scammers targeting the vulnerable will face justice.
