A father and son team of cowboy roofers have each been sentenced to eight years in prison for a sophisticated fraud that conned homeowners across South and West Wales out of more than £500,000.
A Trail of Devastation Across 48 Homes
Jim Janes, 57, and his son, Thomas Michael Jim James, 37, both from Llangadog, Carmarthenshire, operated between 2020 and 2025. The pair targeted 48 homeowners, initially quoting reasonable prices for minor repairs before their tactics turned predatory.
Once work began, they would strip roofs unnecessarily, invent the discovery of extensive damage, and then dramatically hike their costs. Swansea Crown Court heard harrowing accounts of the consequences.
Victims Left in Uninhabitable Homes and Financial Ruin
The court was told of a single mother from Pembrokeshire who contacted them to fix two small leaks. The job escalated into an unnecessary chimney demolition and a full roof replacement, with a new estimate of £71,000. When she questioned this, she was shouted at and threatened.
Her home was left surrounded by scaffolding, uninhabitable, and without heating through winter. Rubbish piles attracted rodents, and poor workmanship caused structural damage. Rectifying their botched job cost an additional £30,000.
In another case, a victim was forced to sell his home after being unable to pay the spiralling costs demanded by the pair.
Perhaps the most distressing case involved a couple from Carmarthen. They were charged over £12,000 for what began as essential repairs. Their home was left with an incomplete, unsafe roof, rendered uninhabitable by scaffolding. One partner was battling terminal cancer during the ordeal and was forced to use funds from a medical retirement to pay. The partner died before the dispute was resolved, leaving their loved one with financial devastation and the belief that the stress had hastened the death.
Sophisticated Fraud and Money Laundering Uncovered
The three-year investigation by the National Trading Standards Regional Investigation Team (Wales), hosted by Newport City Council, revealed the scale of the operation. The duo used a network of sham roofing companies to orchestrate the fraud.
To conceal their criminal proceeds, they transferred large sums to family members' bank accounts. These funds were then used to purchase property and land in the family members' names, a deliberate attempt to avoid detection by authorities.
Both men pleaded guilty to six counts of fraudulent work and money laundering on August 4, followed by a further count of fraud on September 8.
They will each serve a minimum of 40% of their sentences – just over three years – behind bars, with the remainder on licence. A Proceeds of Crime Act timetable has been set to reclaim their illicit gains.
Lord Michael Bichard, chair of National Trading Standards, stated: '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. This sentence demonstrates that these crimes – and the aggressive and dishonest tactics used – will not be tolerated.'
Anyone affected by cowboy builders can report it to the Citizens Advice consumer service helpline on 0808 223 1133.
