Two men have been sentenced to prison after admitting to a calculated fraud that left a retired couple in Ystalyfera thousands of pounds out of pocket and living in a partially stripped bungalow.
Joseph Ellis, 21, of Basildon, and Dave McEvoy, 51, of Cardiff, were each sentenced to two years and three months at Swansea Crown Court after pleading guilty to fraud by false representation.
The pair posed as roofers from Trustwise Roofing Ltd, initially quoting £1,000 for a simple roof clean. Once work began, they falsely claimed the tiles were damaged and repeatedly demanded more money. The charges eventually escalated to thousands of pounds for supposed roof and wall repairs, draining the couple’s savings and leaving their bungalow half-roofed and exposed to the elements. By July 2024, the fraudsters had swindled £33,200 and even tried to persuade the couple to remortgage their home.
Investigation and forensic evidence
South Wales Police tracked McEvoy using a Nissan van seen at the property and arrested him in Penarth on July 23. Forensic analysis of a Lucozade bottle found in the van linked Ellis to the crime. Financial records showed that payments from the victims were funneled through Ellis’s account and withdrawn in cash by McEvoy.
While the couple’s bank reimbursed most of the stolen funds, they were left £5,000 out of pocket for emergency repairs. Local roofers stepped in to make the property weatherproof at no cost. An inspector later confirmed that the original roof clean should have cost only £700–£800.
The judge condemned the pair’s actions as “ruthless and cynical,” noting the severe impact on the victims and the calculated nature of the fraud.
