A woman was conned out of £26,000 by a builder who falsely claimed she needed extensive roof work on her property in Rumney. The builder, Stephen Davies, 68, from Cardiff, was described as a “cruel man” by the victim after taking advantage of her vulnerability. Davies initially appeared trustworthy to the victim, who had recently purchased a bungalow following the death of her parents. She hired Davies to carry out various tasks including fixing a chimney, redecorating, and replacing internal doors. The victim provided Davies with a surveyor’s report, but he failed to provide a breakdown of the work and costs as requested.
Davies proceeded to convince the victim that her chimney stack needed removal and the roof replacement, claiming it was damp and infested with woodworm, which was later proven to be untrue. Despite this, the victim trusted Davies and agreed to the unnecessary work. Over two months, she paid an additional £15,000 in cash, but the work progress was slow, preventing her from moving into her bungalow. When Davies requested a further £10,000, the victim’s brother became suspicious, leading to family intervention.
After being asked for an extra £6,000 to complete the roof work, Davies was ultimately asked to leave the site, and the victim sought reimbursement. Subsequently, the matter was reported to Trading Standards through the Citizens Advice Bureau, and Davies was charged with two counts of dishonestly making false representations for personal gain or causing loss to another.
During the sentencing at Cardiff Crown Court, the victim expressed the financial and emotional impact of Davies’ deceit, emphasizing his lack of remorse or effort to repay the money. Davies, despite acknowledging his wrongdoing, cited financial difficulties as a reason for his inability to reimburse the victim. The court sentenced him to 27 months in prison, with the requirement to serve half of the term before release on licence.
In her statement, the victim highlighted the distress caused by Davies’ actions and urged the court to punish him accordingly to prevent him from targeting others. Despite Davies’ remorse and commitment to repayment following Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) proceedings, the judge condemned his exploitation of the victim for financial gain. The victim shared her disbelief at Davies’ deception, especially considering her health issues and the trust she initially placed in him as a reputable builder.
The case serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of thorough research and verification when hiring contractors, especially in vulnerable situations. The victim’s courage in seeking justice against deceptive builders like Davies underscores the need for stricter regulations to protect homeowners from falling victim to similar scams in the future.