Bristol rogue trader who 'preyed on vulnerable people' scammed woman out of life savings

A rogue trader from Bristol has been jailed for "preying on vulnerable people". Richard Williams, 53, traded under numerous names including Williams Roofing, Roofability, Roofing Home Service and R&K Property & Building Contractors to carry out fraudulent work on a "large scale".

Bristol Crown Court heard how he scammed 19 victims, aged from 31 to 99, of over £368,000 between January 2021 and August 2023. His victims lived across Bristol and South Gloucestershire, including Alveston, Clifton, Filton, Horfield, Longwell Green, Shirehampton and Westbury-on-Trym.

South Gloucestershire Trading Standards launched an investigation into Williams, of Greenridge Close, Bristol, and formerly of Little Stoke, in October 2021. It came after they received a number of complaints about his poor workmanship.

He offered roofing services, and time and time again a small repair would result in the replacement of the entire roof costing thousands of pounds more. Williams would often take large deposits upfront and fail to return to customers’ properties, or he would start a job and then fail to return and finish it, leaving properties exposed to the elements for months at a time.

He was aware of his legal responsibilities having previously been jailed in January 2020 for fraudulent trading in respect of his then business, Platinum Roofing. Lee Reynolds, prosecuting, told the court how Williams used different business names and several false addresses.

He targeted the elderly and vulnerable by advertising in the South Bristol Voice and associated newspapers offering a discount for OAPs and NHS workers. Williams was described by most victims as being very friendly and trusting, charming even, and a very good salesman.

Tim Davies, a Chartered Surveyor, examined some of the properties that Williams had worked on. He concluded that most of the work did not need doing or Williams had charged the customer excessively. In one instance he said: “The standard of workmanship… is deficient in almost all areas.”

Victim conned out of her life savings

One victim was conned out of her life savings as well as bank loans and loans from family for various building works to her property including a boundary wall, a granny annex and a new roof. She paid Williams almost £155,000 and the surveyor valued the work at less than £5,000.

The surveyor said it was not necessary to replace the roof and most of the work would need to be redone. To have the works completed by a new builder has cost the victim another £100,000.

The victim said: "The financial strain is immense… I live like a pauper and must think carefully about every purchase I make… I have been consumed with the physical and mental stress and worry over this situation for over two years. I realise he (Richard) is a liar and clever thief who preys on honest, vulnerable people.”

Another victim, 99, said: “Mr Williams hit me for six. I was previously a very calm person but now I have become very anxious and worry a lot.” She felt taken advantage of because of her age and living alone.

Jail sentence

Williams was prosecuted for carrying on a fraudulent business under the Fraud Act by South Gloucestershire Trading Standards. He initially pleaded guilty at Bristol Crown Court in March 2023.

However, he pleaded guilty in April this year after Trading Standards laid out additional evidence against him. Ms Gohill, defending for Williams, said that the offending cannot be mitigated and commented that what Williams had done was unforgiveable.

He was jailed for over six years and given a Criminal Behaviour Order which prevents him from carrying out building, maintenance or gardening work for individuals in the UK. In sentencing HHJ Patrick said that Williams was a “thoroughly dishonest man” who exploited the elderly and the vulnerable.

HHJ Patrick acknowledged that this case was not just about the economic loss, but the impact and misery caused to the victims.

Councillor Sean Rhodes, cabinet member responsible for communities at South Gloucestershire Council, said: “Williams has been sent to prison for preying on vulnerable people and carrying out fraudulent work on a large-scale. This is a record sentence for South Gloucestershire Council and follows years of hard work by our Trading Standards team.

“The victims in this case have been left in devastating circumstances. Many have not only suffered financial losses but also had to pay additional monies to rectify their properties because of Williams’ actions. We are committed to helping keep people and their money safe from rogue traders and I hope this sends out the message that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated in South Gloucestershire.”