Shropshire builder jailed for ‘ripping off clients to fund lifestyle’

Investigators said one victim paid more than £70,000 for a two-storey extension but was left with a single-storey structure.

Its roof has been damaged and is now leaking water, and the solar panels it previously installed no longer work. Jones’ victim was offered up to £130,000 to complete the building.

The other two paid almost £20,000, believing that more work was needed to get building control approval, which was not true, and then no more work was carried out.

Jones also sent contractors to some of the homes to carry out the “bare minimum” of work to maintain the illusion that the work was ongoing and thus justify payment demands, Trading Standards said.

When customers raised concerns, Jones resorted to intimidation, threatening to recall his workers.

The investigation reported that last June he was sentenced to 20 months in prison for crimes committed under a different company name.