A Bristol man who previously traded under numerous names including Williams Roofing, Roofability, Roofing Home Service and R&K Property & Building Contractors has been given a prison sentence of over six years after South Gloucestershire Council’s Trading Standards team prosecuted him for operating a fraudulent roofing business.
Richard Williams, 53, of Greenridge Close, Bristol, and formerly of Little Stoke, was handed a six years and four months sentence along with an indefinite Criminal Behaviour Order banning him from running a building business when he appeared at Bristol Crown Court on Thursday 21 November after pleading guilty to fraudulent trading in respect of 19 victims.
Williams previously received a prison sentence of 14 months in January 2020 for fraudulent trading in respect of his then business, Platinum Roofing.
This latest case involved 19 victims aged from 31 to 99 (at the time of the offending) who paid Williams over £368,000 in total between January 2021 and August 2023. Homeowners exploited included residents in Bristol and South Gloucestershire – Alveston, Clifton, Filton, Horfield, Longwell Green, Shirehampton, Westbury-on-Trym – along with one victim in Cornwall.
South Gloucestershire Trading Standards started to investigate Richard Williams in October 2021 due to complaints received regarding his workmanship, or lack of. Williams offered roofing services, and time and time again a small repair would result in the replacement of the entire roof costing thousands of pounds more. He would often take large deposits upfront and fail to return to customers’ properties, or he would start a job and then fail to return and finish it, leaving properties exposed to the elements for months at a time.
Williams was fully aware of his legal responsibilities having previously been imprisoned just the year before and he was also advised by Bristol Trading Standards in January 2021. As the investigation continued, Williams was warned against his tactics and advised of the criminal investigation and his legal responsibilities, but he again ignored all advice given and complaints continued to be received. Complaints even continued while Williams was on bail throughout this case, demonstrating he clearly has no regard for his customers or the law.
Lee Reynolds, prosecuting, told the court how Williams used different business names and several false addresses. He used typical rogue trader tactics such as pressure techniques and aggressive behaviour. He initially targeted the elderly and vulnerable by advertising in the South Bristol Voice and associated newspapers offering a discount for OAPs and NHS workers. Williams was described by most victims as being very friendly and trusting, charming even, and a very good salesman.
Williams also failed to pay invoices totalling over £4,200 for his advertising. This put the small business involved in financial difficulty, which they are still recovering from.
Chartered Surveyor, Tim Davies, examined some of the properties in the case and concluded that most of the work did not need doing whatsoever, or Williams had charged the customer excessively. In one instance he commented: “The standard of workmanship… is deficient in almost all areas.”
One of the victims used her life savings as well as bank loans and loans from family for various building works to her property including a boundary wall, a granny annex and a new roof, which the victim did not want. She paid Williams almost £155,000 and the surveyor valued the work at less than £5,000. He commented that it was not necessary to replace the roof and most of the work would need to be redone. To have the works completed by a new builder has cost the victim another £100,000. This victim comments: “The financial strain is immense… I live like a pauper and must think carefully about every purchase I make… I have been consumed with the physical and mental stress and worry over this situation for over two years. I realise he (Richard) is a liar and clever thief who preys on honest, vulnerable people.”
Another victim aged 99 at the time of the incident said: “Mr Williams hit me for six. I was previously a very calm person but now I have become very anxious and worry a lot.” She felt taken advantage of because of her age and living alone.
Another victim commented he had lost lots of his hair due to the stress endured and caused by Williams.
Due to the seriousness of the case and high value fraud, Williams was prosecuted for carrying on a fraudulent business under the Fraud Act by South Gloucestershire Trading Standards and initially pleaded not guilty in March 2023 at Bristol Crown Court. Once Trading Standards laid additional evidence against Williams of his continued offending, he eventually pleaded guilty in April 2024.
Ms Gohill, defending for Williams, said that the offending cannot be mitigated and commented that what Williams had done was unforgiveable.
In sentencing HHJ Patrick said that Williams was a “thoroughly dishonest man” who exploited the elderly and the vulnerable. HHJ Patrick acknowledged that this case was not just about the economic loss, but the impact and misery caused to the victims.
Given Williams repeat offending, a Criminal Behaviour Order was sought against him and granted preventing him from carrying out building, maintenance or gardening work for individuals in the UK.
Councillor Sean Rhodes, cabinet member responsible for communities at South Gloucestershire Council, said: “Williams has been sent to prison for preying on vulnerable people and carrying out fraudulent work on a large-scale. This is a record sentence for South Gloucestershire Council and follows years of hard work by our Trading Standards team.
“The victims in this case have been left in devastating circumstances. Many have not only suffered financial losses but also had to pay additional monies to rectify their properties because of Williams’ actions.
“We are committed to helping keep people and their money safe from rogue traders and I hope this sends out the message that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated in South Gloucestershire.”
Visit https://beta.southglos.gov.uk/consumer-advice/ for advice on how to avoid rogue traders.
