Two cowboy roofers have been jailed after convincing thousands of elderly Kent residents that they needed chimney and roof repairs, swindling them out of thousands of pounds. The scam was so successful that the men boasted about the money they had stolen, revealing footage of them singing on a voice note and admitting their fraudulent activity.
Get your news delivered straight to you by 7am -Two cowboy roofers have been jailed after swindling elderly victims out of thousands of pounds by charging them for unnecessary repairs.
Nelson Cooper, 39, and Scott Smith, 33, targeted homes across Kent between September 2024 and January 2025 - convincing innocent owners that chimney and roof repairs were needed. Footage reveals the men boasting about defrauded cash, singing on a WhatsApp voice note: 'Money, oh it's Christmas money.
' In a separate video, what seems to be Smith sits on top of a house and lifts up roof tiles to the camera against a commentary by Cooper, who says: 'Look, they are all the same. ' Further moments capture police arresting the men, as a seemingly confused Smith questions the officers while rolling a cigarette - and Cooper sits emotionless and handcuffed at a victim's house on December 18 2024.
The pair - who struck in Dover, Canterbury, Ramsgate and Swansley - would start quoting smaller sums to their elderly victims that would gradually inflate. An investigation into Cooper's company, which Smith worked for, found the repairs recommended by them were fraudulent. On several occasions Cooper even escorted his victims to banks and cash machines if they said they didn't have the cash at home, police said.
What seems to be Smith sits on top of a house and lifts up roof tiles against a commentary by Cooper, who says: 'Look, they are all the same' Footage reveals the men boasting about defrauded cash, singing on a WhatsApp voice note: 'Money, oh it's Christmas money' Cooper sits emotionless with handcuffs on during his arrest on December 18 2024 Evidence of their fraudulent activity became apparent when police investigated Cooper's phone, which was seized during his arrest in December 2024. Officers recovered messages containing videos of elderly people, unaware they were being filmed, and voice notes which discussed how promising particular areas were for fraud.
Cooper wrote in one message to a contact that all of the jobs he had done in Ramsgate were more than £2,700, while a second message revealed that in Dover 'ladders are going up left right and centre'. Kent Police were called to the property in Ramsgate in January 2025 after reports of cold callers in the area.
Checking a property where building work was underway, officers found Smith working there and enquiries revealed the elderly resident had already paid more than £25,000 for unnecessary work. Smith was arrested, while Cooper, who had also been there that day but fled at the sight of police cars, was arrested a short time later. They were both charged with a number of fraud offences. At court they pleaded guilty and last month they were both sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court.
Cooper, of Tillingbourne Green in Orpington, was given a three-year prison sentence and Smith, of Englefield Crescent in Orpington, was jailed for two years and four months. Cooper, of Tillingbourne Green in Orpington, was given a three-year prison sentence Smith, of Englefield Crescent in Orpington, was jailed for two years and four months Investigating officer DC Mark Collins said: 'Our investigation into Cooper and Smith's criminal activities was able to show how far reaching they had been and many elderly victims there were, as they destroyed homes with unnecessary work, took life savings and then didn't look back.
'When Cooper was arrested and his phones were seized, it was distressing to see how little respect he had shown people, from filming them unaware, even when they were upset about the costly repairs, to singing and joking about the money he was making from his fraud. 'Through determination to uncover the evidence needed, officers were able to bring them before the courts to stop them taking advantage of any more people.
'Rogue traders like Cooper and Smith are often well practiced in their scams and the advice they provide can often sound very convincing. 'Anyone can become a victim of such frauds so if you are approached out of the blue about repairs needed, don't be rushed into agreeing the work. Don't be afraid to seek a second opinion. '
Cowboy Roofers Scam Victims Kent Chimney Repairs Roof Repairs Investigation Prison Sentence Court Determination Multiple Victims Advice Scam Determination
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