A rogue builder who swindled city homeowners out of more than £120,000 and left dangerous and incomplete work behind him has been sentenced to 20 months in prison.

Adam Jones, who operated under two different business names, also defrauded almost £70,000 from a householder in Shropshire while they were recovering from illness.

He was given the custodial sentence and has also been disqualified from being a director for seven years following an investigation by City of Wolverhampton Council’s Trading Standards team.

Jones, of Garden Walk, Gornal, had pleaded guilty to two charges of participating in a fraudulent business contrary to section 993(1) of the Companies Act 2006.

He also admitted six charges made against him under Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 and three made against his company.

He was sentenced at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Monday, 12 June. His Honour Judge Michael Chambers KC stated that Jones had knowingly and systematically defrauded customers for his own financial gain.

Jones, operating variously as Buildgen Limited and Ark Developments and Construction Limited, had been engaged by all three victims between 2019 and 2021 to carry out renovations and extensions at their properties.

But he made promises that he didn’t keep, employed unqualified workers and rarely paid them and pressurised the householders to part with more and more money.

Jones also failed to pay suppliers, took money for materials that were never supplied, falsely charged VAT and failed to pay tax.

In the first case in the city, Jones agreed to install a double storey rear and single storey side extension and internal structural alterations. The householder paid Jones £59,500.

But the work that was eventually completed by Jones was not what was agreed, was of very poor standard and needed to be knocked down. An independent building surveyor valued it at £12,035.

In the second case, Jones said he would create a loft extension with shower and a rear single-story extension. The homeowner paid out a total of £62,430.

But Jones only completed 10% of the rear extension, failed to fit radiators and pipework in the loft extension, fitted the shower and shower cubicle incorrectly causing it to collapse and damaged the ceiling on the first floor landing.

In the third case in Shropshire, Jones agreed to renovate and extend a property for a homeowner who was recovering from illness. The householders moved out of the property while work, costing £69,125, was taking place.

But on their return, the homeowners found a set of stairs that did not fit, a bathroom that had been ripped out and not replaced, a leaking roof, a ceiling that had been incorrectly fitted, excavated soil had been left behind despite being paid to be removed and Jones also failed to return their house keys.

Councillor Craig Collingswood, cabinet member for city environment and climate change, said: “This is an upsetting case where innocent homeowners have been caught up in a web of false promises.

“Rogue traders like Adam Jones cause a huge amount of stress to their victims who will have saved hard to pay for what they think will be improvements to their homes.

"As a council, we have a duty to protect consumers from traders who break the law and carry out sub-standard work and I am glad that justice has been served for the homeowners who have been so badly let down."

A proceeds of crime investigation will be conducted to establish if there are any funds or assets that can be used to compensate the victims and cover investigation costs.

Anyone else who may have been affected by Jones and would like to make a complaint can contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133.