VIDEO: Greedy Roofers Took £86k From Elderly Locals — Then Spent It on Luxury Holidays

A father-and-son roofing team who conned more than 20 elderly and vulnerable residents across Woking in Surrey and Pulborough in Sussex have been sentenced after a major three-year investigation by Surrey Police. William Smith, 35, and his son Joseph Smith, 18, operated under multiple fake company names, offering minor roofing and guttering repairs before dramatically […]

A father-and-son roofing team who conned more than 20 elderly and vulnerable residents across Woking in Surrey and Pulborough in Sussex have been sentenced after a major three-year investigation by Surrey Police.

William Smith, 35, and his son Joseph Smith, 18, operated under multiple fake company names, offering minor roofing and guttering repairs before dramatically inflating prices and pressuring victims into paying thousands. Officers say the pair stole around £86,000, with a further £100,000 in losses prevented, though the true figure is expected to be far higher. Several victims have since died, leaving families to cope with financial loss alongside their grief.

The scams followed a clear pattern: quote a small job, “discover” additional problems, and then demand escalating payments. In one case, a resident in Goldsworth Park was quoted £1,730, only to be told later that £32,000 worth of work was suddenly required. The victim paid £13,800 before the work was abandoned — a reputable roofer later fixed the issue properly for just £215.

Another victim in Horsell was quoted £300 for gutter repairs, but the Smiths later claimed the roof had “squirrel damage” and charged £18,960 for substandard work that caused further damage.

In one of the most disturbing incidents, Joseph Smith drove a man with Alzheimer’s to his bank so he could withdraw £1,250. Messages found on Joseph’s phone showed him bragging about exploiting the man and planning to take even more money.

During the investigation, police uncovered photos on the pair’s phones showing victims handing over cash and writing cheques — images officers described as showing “no regard” for the suffering they caused. Much of the money was spent on luxury holidays to Dubai and Tenerife, designer clothing, and expensive watches.

At Croydon County Court on 3 November, William Smith was jailed for 3 years and 9 months. Joseph Smith received a 20-month sentence, suspended for 23 months, along with 50 hours’ unpaid work and 30 days of rehabilitation. A 16-year-old accomplice from Pulborough, who cannot be named for legal reasons, will be sentenced in December.

Judge Ms Recorder S Presland said the Smiths viewed their elderly victims as “cash cows”, adding that William Smith was clearly the “brains of the operation”.

Sergeant Ben Marshall said: “The Smiths deliberately targeted the most vulnerable in our community, exploiting their trust purely for greed. Their actions caused enormous financial and emotional harm.”

Surrey Police are urging anyone who suspects rogue trading to report it immediately to police or Trading Standards to help protect others from similar scams.