Two Notts conmen tricked around 80 customers – including a wheelchair bound couple – out of £291,000 for dodgy repair work.
Gareth Bryan, 34, of Lytham Gardens, Bestwood, and Martin Jacks, 35, of Wellesley Crescent, Broxtowe, each admitted to three counts of fraudulent trading.
Nottinghamshire County Council say they traded under companies called Premier Roof Coatings, Premier Wall and Drive Coatings and PRC Home Improvements, resulting in an estimated total fraud value of around £1.18m.
Bryan also admitted to money laundering and concealing criminal property.
Officers at the council say they “ruthlessly targeted vulnerable people” for unnecessary building work.
They would go door-to-door claiming they had been working on a neighbour’s property and had noticed a problem with the house, roof or driveway.
However as work was being carried out, victims started noticing that the men did not have the proper tools or materials to complete the tasks, and even ended up damaging property.
The pair were uncovered following a complex four-year investigation, co-ordinated by the National Trading Standards Scambuster Team, after complaints were received from elderly poeple.
Both have now been given two years in prison, suspended for two years.
Nottinghamshire County Council, which hosts the Scambuster Team East Midlands, welcomed the sentencing.
Councillor Alice Grice, said: “People should be very wary of buying anything on the doorstep, and should check the firm is reputable and if in doubt always say no.”
Wheelchair-bound couple Valerie Watson, 62, and Raymond Fairgrieve, 72, were among the victims targeted by Bryan and Jacks.
The couple handed over £1,100 in cash after the men knocked on their door in summer 2014 to say they were working on a neighbour’s property, and could repaint the roof of their bungalow, remove the moss and mend loose tiles.
After the work was completed, the couple had the roof inspected by an independent expert, who said roof tiles had actually been loosened, the painting was not completed properly and there was still moss on the roof.
What they did was unforgivable
Mrs Watson, said: “We were furious but there was nothing we could do as they had demanded cash and we took them at their word they would do a good job.
“We are very pleased that the council’s trading standards have been able to take court action against them.
“What they did to us was unforgivable.”
The council has a Trading Standards-approved trader scheme in partnership with Checkatrade, which helps to drive work towards reputable organisations and tradespeople, and away from rogue traders.
Lord Toby Harris, Chair of National Trading Standards, said: “It is clear that these criminals created these companies with the sole purpose of deceiving vulnerable consumers out of large sums of money.
“Doorstep crime is an issue that continues to cost many members of our community dearly, not only financially but in terms of their confidence too.”
A full list of Trading Standards approved traders can be found at on the Checkatrade website, or by calling Citizens’ Advice on 03454 040506.
