All members of a 22-person criminal operation that pressured homeowners to pay inflated prices for unnecessary or poor-quality roofing have been sentenced at Teesside Crown Court.
Following their activities in North East, Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire, the judge sentenced 12 gang members to jail for a combined 63 years and 3 months.
The network extracted more than £1 million from victims for unnecessary, poor-quality and grossly overpriced work between May 2021 and August 2024. The sentences follow a major investigation by the National Trading Standards Yorkshire and Humber Regional Investigation Team, hosted by City of York Council.
The conspiracy had 43 proven victims across Northumberland, County Durham, Teesside, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. Trading Standards officers also uncovered an extensive money laundering network used to move and disguise victims’ money through numerous bank accounts.
The fraud typically began with homeowners being cold called and approached about relatively small jobs, such as clearing gutters or replacing a roof tile. Once work began, they would be told that much more extensive and urgent repairs were required. Victims were pressured into agreeing to these unnecessary repairs, with prices rapidly escalating into thousands or tens of thousands of pounds. The criminal network deliberately targeted vulnerable people, including those who were older, isolated or living with ill health.
Among those targeted was a woman in her late 70s from New Marske, who was cold called by Finney and initially agreed to repairs to her garage roof. She was subsequently persuaded that her main roof needed replacing and, over the following year, paid £94,700. A chartered building surveyor later found the work had been carried out very badly and valued it at just £3,107.
In Sheffield, a woman of a similar age was repeatedly targeted by rogue traders while her husband was terminally ill and following his death. She was later cold called by one of the gang’s ringleaders Frederick Finney, using the name “James”, who returned with flowers and chocolates, called her his “nicest customer” and assured her he “wouldn’t take advantage of her or scam her”. In total, she paid £133,400 for work later valued at £3,350.
Frederick Finney, 48, of HMP Holme House, previously of Bickerton, West Yorkshire, was one of the architects of the conspiracy and used a network of money launderers to receive and move victims’ money. This network included his wife, Carla Finney, 48, of Hillfield Close, Seamer, North Yorkshire, described by prosecutors as a prolific money launderer, who operated 14 bank accounts through which £381,152 linked to the conspiracy was identified.
Walter Farrow, 55, of Birch Close, Stokesley, North Yorkshire, was described by prosecutors as another driving force within the criminal network. His son, Isaac Farrow, 31, of Sewerby Crescent, Stokesley, North Yorkshire, was also assessed as having a leading role.
Seven members of the gang were sentenced on 15 September:
- Frederick Finney, 48, of HMP Holme House (previously of Bickerton, West Yorkshire) – sentenced to 6 years 9 months immediate imprisonment after pleading guilty to conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to convert criminal property.
- Carla Finney, 48, of Hillfield Close, Seamer, North Yorkshire – sentenced to 5 years’ immediate imprisonment after being convicted of conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to convert criminal property.
- Andrew Carty, 37, of HMP Dovegate (previously of Normanby, Scunthorpe) – sentenced to 5 years and 4 months immediate imprisonment after pleading guilty to conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to convert criminal property.
- Michael Olssen, 38, of Richmond Road, Hessle, Humberside – sentenced to 4 years and 11 months immediate imprisonment after pleading guilty to conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to convert criminal property.
- Shannon Finney, 22, of Hillfield Close, Seamer, North Yorkshire – sentenced to 18 months imprisonment suspended for 2 years after being convicted of conspiracy to convert criminal property.
- Christopher Morley, 36, of North Lincolnshire – sentenced to 24 months imprisonment suspended for 2 years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to convert criminal property.
- Allan Smith, 36, of Gainford, Birtley, Gateshead – sentenced to 12 months imprisonment suspended for two years after pleading guilty to two fraud offences and converting criminal property.
A further seven were sentenced on 16 September:
- Walter Farrow, 55, of Birch Close, Stokesley, North Yorkshire – sentenced to 7 years and 2 months’ immediate imprisonment after pleading guilty to conspiracy to defraud, conspiracy to convert criminal property and two separate fraud offences.
- Tyler McBride, 30, of Chaucer Road, Darlington, Durham – sentenced to 6 years’ immediate imprisonment after being convicted of conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to convert criminal property.
- Isaac Farrow, 31, of Sewerby Crescent, Stokesley, North Yorkshire – sentenced to 5 years and 4 months’ immediate imprisonment after pleading guilty to conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to convert criminal property.
- Michael Mather, 35, of HMP Northumberland (previously of Kingsbury Mews, Darlington, Durham) – sentenced to 4 years’ immediate imprisonment after pleading guilty to conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to convert criminal property.
- Charlie Farrow, 37, of Hillfield Close, Seamer, North Yorkshire – sentenced to 3 years’ immediate imprisonment after pleading guilty to conspiracy to convert criminal property.
- Sonja Edgar, 44, of Apple Tree Road, Stokesley, North Yorkshire – sentenced to 3 years’ imprisonment suspended for 3 years after being convicted of conspiracy to convert criminal property.
- Daniel Moody, 34, whereabouts unknown – sentenced to 6 years’ immediate imprisonment after being convicted in his absence of conspiracy to convert criminal property following a trial.
The final eight defendants were sentenced on 17 September:
- Shane Farrow, 33, of Birch Close, Stokesley, North Yorkshire – sentenced to 6 years and 3 months’ immediate imprisonment after pleading guilty to conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to convert criminal property.
- Thomas Winter, 34, of HMP Northumberland (previously of Guisborough, North Yorkshire) – sentenced to 42 months’ immediate imprisonment after pleading guilty to conspiracy to convert criminal property.
- Ryan Watson, 27, of Darnton Drive, Middlesbrough – sentenced to 2 years’ imprisonment suspended for 2 years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to convert criminal property.
- Serena Robertson, 25, of Hebron Road, Stokesley, North Yorkshire – sentenced to 2 years’ imprisonment suspended for 2 years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to convert criminal property.
- Chelsea Bayliss, 24, of Allen Court, Stokesley, North Yorkshire – sentenced to 2 years’ imprisonment suspended for 2 years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to convert criminal property.
- James Hope, 37, of Gainford, Gateshead – sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment suspended for 2 years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to convert criminal property.
- Nicole O'Brien, 36, of South Parkway, Seacroft, Leeds – sentenced to 2 years’ imprisonment suspended for 2 years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to convert criminal property.
- Ben Ware, 34, of York Road, Tadcaster, North Yorkshire – sentenced to 2 years’ imprisonment suspended for 2 years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to convert criminal property.
Lord Bichard, Chair of National Trading Standards, said:
“These offenders deliberately targeted people who were isolated, unwell or grieving. They abused their trust and took life-changing sums of money, before trying to hide the proceeds through an extensive network of bank accounts. This was calculated criminality that caused serious financial and emotional harm.
“If you are concerned about work being offered on your doorstep, do not feel pressured into agreeing to work or making an immediate payment. Anyone who believes they or someone they know may have been targeted by a rogue trader should contact the Citizens Advice consumer service on 0808 223 1133.”
The National Trading Standards Yorkshire and Humber Regional Investigation Team is hosted by the City of York.
Councillor Jenny Kent, City of York Council’s Executive Member with responsibility for Trading Standards, said:
“The scale and complexity of this fraud is quite shocking, and these criminals have clearly caused a great deal of misery through their actions.
“The convictions are a significant achievement for the National Trading Standards team, and we thank them for yet another successful prosecution.”
Commenting while handing down sentences at Teesside Crown Court on 17 September, HHJ Kidd said:
“Money laundering is a disease that allows serious crime to take place.”