‘Despicable’ rogue builders sent to prison for ‘catalogue of unnecessary and abysmal work’

Rogue builders who took advantage of vulnerable Bucks homeowners have both been handed prison sentences.

Brothers Jamie and Sean Casey appeared at Aylesbury Crown Court on September 10 and received 18 months and 10-months in prison respectively.

The brothers’ crimes included ‘a catalogue of unnecessary works’, charging inflated prices, using inferior materials.

They also left works incomplete or ‘to such a poor standard’ that homeowners were left with ‘further serious problems’ they had to pay other workers to fix.

Jamie Casey was also accused of using ‘aggressive and threatening behaviour’ in seeking payment – and asking for payment to be made directly to a personal account rather than into a business account. 

One of the homeowners were Farnham Common and were cold-called by the defendants in November 2023.

When they told Jamie Casey that the porch had leaked, he immediately started removing tiles.

He said his company, First Class Builders and Decorators Limited, could carry out the works needed for £3,000.

Despite the lack of contract, the homeowners felt pressured to agree to the works when, without warning, scaffolding was erected outside the following day.

Over subsequent days, Jamie Casey listed a wide range of additional works, quoting verbal figures for costs.

Overnight on November 26, 2023, the homeowners suffered ‘significant flooding’ in the bathroom below one of the roof areas being repaired.

When Jamie Casey was questioned on the matter, he ‘simply shrugged it off’, said Bucks council, which led the investigation against the pair.

Although more repairs were made to the roof, the internal damage to the bathroom was not addressed and the Caseys offered no recompense.

Jamie Casey ‘had no qualms about entering the house uninvited’ to discuss payment – which the homeowner said made him feel ‘harassed and pressured.’

Eventually the son of the homeowner intervened. When no satisfactory paperwork was produced, the family spoke to the police and contacted trading standards.

Over a 10-day period, the homeowners had made payments totalling £37,200.

An independent expert who analysed the work described the quality as ‘abysmal’.

His report said a ‘typical small repair’ was escalated ‘for no apparent reason’ – other than to charge ‘extortionate’ amounts of money for ‘very questionable work.’

During sentencing, presiding judge His Honour James Keeley stressed how the defendants persistently targeted vulnerable older people – pestering them into parting with large sums of money.

He said they had caused the homeowners ‘real distress, anguish and upset’, in addition to financial loss. He described their actions as ‘despicable’.

Following the court result, Buckinghamshire Council has provided some advice to help people avoid being duped by rogue builders.

They said: “It is always advisable to get a number of written quotes for any work you are planning.

“Ask trusted friends and family for recommendations and get a detailed written contract with the builder you choose.

“Always check references by contacting previous clients and verify the builder's credentials and trade association memberships.

“Be cautious of suspiciously low prices, requests for cash up front, or builders who knock on your door soliciting work. Never feel pressured to accept work.

“If in doubt, contact [your local authority] Trading Standards [team].”