Cowboy father and son roofers who defrauded their prospects out of £500,000 are jailed after rip-off focusing on 48 households

A father and son team of cowboy roofers who scammed their customers out of more than £500,000 with inflated repair costs, shoddy workmanship and threatening demands for money, have been jailed for eight years each.

Jim Janes, 57 and his son, Thomas Michael Jim James, 37, of Llangadog, Carmarthenshire, targeted 48 homeowners across South and West Wales between 2020 and 2025.

The duo would quote reasonable prices for small jobs, but once work began they would strip roofs unnecessarily, claim extensive damage had been discovered, and hike costs dramatically, Swansea Crown Court heard.

Many of their customers have now been left with extensive repair costs. 

In one instance, a victim was forced to sell his home after struggling to pay for the spiralling costs, while a single mother from Pembrokeshire was forced into paying tens of thousands of pounds when a small job to fix two small leaks turned into an unnecessary chimney demolition and extensive roof replacement. 

When she questioned the new estimate of £71,000, she was shouted at and threatened. Her home became uninhabitable, and the woman was left without heating through winter, surrounded by scaffolding that blocked access, rubbish piles attracting rodents and structural damage from poor workmanship. 

Rectifying the damage cost an additional £30,000.

The court also heard about a Carmarthen couple, who were charged more than £12,000 for what began as essential repairs, but escalated into repeated demands for more money. 

Thomas Michael Jim James, 37, (left) and Jim Janes, 57,of Llangadog, Carmarthenshire, targeted 48 homeowners across South and West Wales between 2020 and 2025

The pair were jailed after scamming their customers out of more than £500,000 with inflated repair costs, shoddy workmanship and threatening demands for money. Pictured: Inadequate work undertaken on the flashing and tiles of one customer’s roof

The duo would quote reasonable prices for small jobs, but once work began they would strip roofs unnecessarily, claim extensive damage had been discovered, and hike costs dramatically. Pictured: Work undertaken by the pair on a customer’s chimney and roof

Their home was left surrounded by scaffolding, with an incomplete and unsafe roof rendering the property uninhabitable. 

One partner was battling terminal cancer during this ordeal and was forced to use funds from his medical retirement to pay the roofing costs. 

The disruption caused severe distress, and the terminally ill partner died before the dispute was resolved, leaving their partner with financial devastation, an unsafe home, and the belief that the stress had hastened their loved one’s death.

Throughout the investigation, victims described the process as extremely distressing and mentally exhausting.

The pair are said to have orchestrated the fraud using a sophisticated network of sham roofing companies.

Investigators found that Jim Janes and Thomas James concealed their criminal proceeds by transferring large sums to family members’ bank accounts. 

These family members then purchased property and land on the defendants’ behalf, with assets placed in their names to avoid detection by authorities.

They earlier pleaded guilty to six counts of fraudulent work and money laundering on  August 4, followed by a further count of fraud on September 8.

The pair’s poor workmanship left customers with damaged or incomplete roofs that required further repair afterwards

One customer said she was left without heating through winter and structural damage from poor workmanship. Pictured: Damp and black mould caused by inadequate repair work

Both men will serve a minimum of 40 per cent of their sentences – or just over three years – behind bars, with the remainder to be served on licence. 

A Proceeds of Crime Act and Criminal Behaviour order timetable has been set.  

Yesterday’s sentencing follows a three-year investigation by trading standards officers working for the National Trading Standards Regional Investigation Team (Wales), which is hosted by Newport City Council. 

Their work included forensic analysis of financial transactions, hundreds of consumer complaints, and witness testimony from victims.

Lord Michael Bichard, chair of National Trading Standards, said: ‘In their own homes, victims were intimidated and pressurised into paying tens of thousands of pounds for building work that was unnecessary and, in many cases, left their homes in dangerous conditions requiring expensive repairs. 

‘This sentence demonstrates that these crimes – and the aggressive and dishonest tactics used – will not be tolerated. I hope this sentence provides some semblance of justice for the victims.’

Anyone who has been affected by cowboy builders can report it to the Citizens Advice consumer service helpline on 0808 223 1133.