Father and son sentenced for scamming vulnerable residents across Woking and Sussex
The pair defrauded over 20 victims through bogus roofing and guttering work.
A father and son have been sentenced after carrying out a series of scams targeting elderly and vulnerable residents across Woking in Surrey and Pulborough in Sussex, defrauding victims of thousands of pounds.
William Smith, 35, and his son Joseph Smith, 18, deceived over 20 individuals using fake roofing businesses, taking a total of £86,000 from their victims. Police believe the true figure could be even higher as more victims may not have come forward.
The scams, which began in 2022, involved quoting for minor roofing and guttering jobs before claiming additional, unnecessary work was needed. While some of the jobs were completed, they were often substandard and caused further property damage.
The first reported scam took place in September 2022, when the Smiths, operating under the name "AAA Roofing and Property Services," initially quoted a man £1,730 for roofing work at his home in Goldsworth Park. This escalated to £13,800 after they claimed the garage roof needed replacing. They later demanded £32,000 for further "issues" but only completed partial work before leaving the man out of pocket. A reputable roofer later completed the job for £215.
Around the same time, another victim in Horsell hired "BSJ Roofing" for gutter repairs and was quoted £300. The Smiths convinced him extensive roof damage caused by squirrels had been uncovered, charging £18,960 for shoddy work that caused more damage, including leaks into his living room.
In September 2023, police were alerted by the bank of an 84-year-old Woking woman who had paid "BSJ and Son Roofing/Guttering" £18,800 for roof repairs after being told additional work was needed. Police stopped further payments, but the victim tragically passed away before the case was concluded.
One of the most distressing scams occurred in March 2024, when Joseph Smith drove a Guildford man with Alzheimer’s to the bank to withdraw £1,250. The victim, who struggled with memory loss, had safeguarding restrictions on his account, but these were circumvented by the perpetrators.
William Smith and Joseph Smith, both from Old Woking, appeared at Croydon County Court on 3 November.
William Smith received a custodial sentence of 3 years and 9 months.
Joseph Smith was given a 20-month custodial sentence, suspended for 23 months. He must also complete 50 hours of unpaid work and attend rehabilitation for 30 days.
A 16-year-old male from Pulborough, involved in the scams, will appear for sentencing at Guildford Magistrates Court on 17 December.
Police also confirmed that proactive interventions by banks and family members helped prevent a further £100,000 from being lost to the scammers.