Anglesey fraudster who swindled Jude Law's grandmother jailed for eight years

A rogue roofer who was at the centre of a gang who preyed on vulnerable elderly people and carried out unnecessary or inadequate work at their homes has been locked up for eight years.

Steven Charles Jones, 38, of Maeshyfryd Road, Llangefni, was said by a judge at Caernarfon Crown Court to have acted in a devious manner and swindled four people of £721,756. He had pleaded guilty to fraud charges at an earlier hearing.

The offences centred around “extortionate” costs for roofing and building work carried out in Bangor, Holyhead, Benllech and Penrhyn Bay.

One of the victims, Meinwen Parry, 89 of College Road, Bangor, who has since died, was the grandmother of Hollywood actor Jude Law. She lost £60,916.20.

Another victim, a retired school caretaker from Penrhyn Bay lost £656,310 for substandard roofing work on his bungalow.

Two other victims lost smaller amounts the court heard.

‘Outstanding level of greed shown’

Judge Huw Rees said the level of greed shown was “outstanding”.

Bedwyr Fon Roberts, 34, of Queens Avenue, Bangor, an associate of Jones was jailed for six years. He had also pleaded guilty to charges of money laundering involving £680,000.

In all 10 people were charged with offences relating to the fraud and two others were jailed.

Daniel Lee Taylor, 30, of Isgraig, Llangefni, also pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud of £5,200 and £3,530. He was said to have played a leading role in the fraud and was jailed for two years.

‘Fingerprints were found on a cheque’

Roberts’ partner, Caren Wyn Owen, 51, of the same address, had denied transferring criminal property of £13,521 and laundering £55,123 but was found guilty and jailed for 20 months.

The judge said her criminal behaviour had carried on for a period of time and more than £68,000 had passed through her account.

Jones partner, Amanda Jayne Jones, was found guilty of money laundering and jailed for nine months. The sentence was suspended for 12 months and she must carry out 150 hours unpaid work.

Macauley Lewis, 20, Newry Street, Holyhead was convicted of converting criminal property – a £900 cheque and jailed for four months suspended for 12 months. He must carry out 150 hours unpaid work.

Sean Parlour, of Berwyn Street, Llangollen, pleaded not guilty to laundering £8,000 but was found guilty. He was jailed for nine months, suspended for a year, and ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.

Christopher Pollitt, 33, of Thornley Avenue, Rhyl, denied converting criminal property of £7,000 but was found guilty. He was jailed for nine months, suspended for a year, and ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.

‘Jones played a leading role’

David Wyn Cashman, 27, of Seiriol Road, Bangor from Caernarfon was found guilty of three money laundering charges and jailed for nine months. The jail term was suspended for 12 months and Cashman was ordered to carry out 150 hours unpaid work.

Mark Nicholas Williams, 33, Bro Rhyddallt, Llanrug, was handed a 28 week sentence, suspended for 12 months, and told to carry out 150 hours unpaid work.

Outlining the prosecution case Elen Owen said the matter came to light when Trading Standards Officers were alerted by Ms Parry’s bank to the possibility she may be the target of rogue traders.

A building surveyor checked Ms Parry’s house and concluded no major works of any significance had been undertaken to the property and there was nothing to suggest the roof had been recovered since the late 1990’s.

Steven Jones’ fingerprints were found on a cheque and he was arrested and interviewed.

Ms Owen said: “The only person the prosecution have evidence of committing this fraud is Steven Jones. It is accepted he may have been involved with others, however the prosecution case is that he played a leading role.”

Further inquiries led police and trading standards officers to the other victims.

Daniel Taylor was said to be a roofer who had worked alongside Steven Jones.

Bedwyr Roberts was arrested later and he admitted cashing cheques for someone he would not name because he was frightened. He stated he did not know what the cheques were for.

Caryn Owen, his partner had paid in some cheques and transferred the money to Roberts’ account. Amanda Jane Jones had carried out similar activity the court heard.

Andrew McInnes, defending Steven Jones, said his client had enjoyed no benefit from the money with nearly all of it handed over to third parties.

‘This case shows how low some people will sink’

“He was under a certain amount of pressure by others. There is no evidence he led a lavish lifestyle,” he said.

Barristers for the defendants said they were ashamed of their actions and were remorseful.

After the hearing Detective Constable Catherine Walker of North Wales Police said: “This case has demonstrated just how low some people will sink to exploit the vulnerable in our community.

“These were despicable acts where elderly, vulnerable people were deliberately targeted and deprived of their life savings.

“They do so with absolutely no conscience or thought of the damage they inflict. Money that was needed to ensure a comfortable retirement has seemingly vanished and at this point there seems little hope in tracing and returning it to its rightful owner.

“Sadly one of the victims has since passed away but I hope on their families behalf, and for the other victims, they will at least take some degree of reassurance in today’s sentencings.”