A GANG of cowboy builders who conned old people out of pounds 250,000 by painting their houses red instead of repairing them have been jailed for a total of 18 years.
The gang, known as the Fiddlers on the Roof, told victims they had fixed broken tiles but all they did was splash the tiles and brickwork with red paint before demanding huge sums. John Ward and his crew took their victims to the bank for cash or a Replica Valentino loan to pay them. Police raiding their caravans found five Rolex watches worth pounds 70,000.
Many victims, including a blind OAP, lost their life savings in the Replica Breitling Watch massive scam. Three victims died before the case came to trial.
The gang targeted Portsmouth, Fareham and Southampton, Hants, between 2004 and 2006 but were caught trying to fleece 89-year-old war veteran Edward Reed of pounds 8,400 to clear moss off his roof, which should have cost pounds 20.
As the evidence against them grew, Floyd Gradidge, 25, and Jonathon Currie, 46 - owned up and at Portsmouth Crown Court they got three and a half years for conspiracy to defraud. John Ward, 43, got seven years and Anthony Ward, 35, four years for Replica Christian Dior Handbags conspiring to defaud, John Ward's sister Anne-Marie, 32, will be sentenced later for money-laundering.
The Wards all live at Kanes Hill Caravan Site, Southampton.
