ROGUE TRADER James Bunce, 26, from Llanhydrock Close, St Mellons has been sent to prison for 12 months today at Cardiff Crown Court.

The court heard that Mr Bunce was in the building trade and while working alongside others, cold called two elderly Cardiff residents.

In December 2016, an elderly resident from Plasnewydd was cold called and agreed to have work carried out on the front of his house at a cost of £300. After this agreement, the cost increased to £5,000, as he was told that extra work was needed to be carried out to re-build his wall.

When the resident from Plasnewydd realised that he was being conned he told the builders that he didn't want them to proceed with the work and ‘aggressive and demanding tactics' were used to get the cash.

After paying £1,000 in cash, the resident went to the bank to try to take out a further £2,000 but the bank called the police. Trading Standards then started the investigation and an independent survey revealed that the true value of work that was carried out was only £440

Previously in 2016, between August and October, another resident from Old St Mellons was persuaded through a cold call that he needed work carried out on the roof of his house as it needed to be ‘de-mossed and there was movement in the tiles'. He was then told that further work was required on both the driveway and the patio.

A total of £26,200 for paid for work that was deemed to be ‘worthless' by an expert surveyor and if the work had been necessary and actually carried out to an acceptable standard, the total cost should have been £1,100.

Since the crimes, the resident from St Mellons was described as being in ‘a permanent state of anxiety' trying desperately to save the money that has been taken from him.

In mitigation, Tim Hartland representing the defendant explained to the court that Mr Bunce pleaded guilty at an early opportunity. He was only 26 years old and hadn't been sent to prison before.

Mr Hartland said: "They were despicable offences to elderly, vulnerable people and Mr Bunce would like to apologise to both the court and the victims. In this case Mr Bunce wasn't the prime mover or the driving force behind these crimes."

When interviewed, James Bunce refused to give any details of any of the other people involved in these crimes.

In sentencing His Honour Judge Crowther confirmed that James Bunce was part of a group that ‘systematically targeted and took advantage of the vulnerable and elderly' and had facilitated the con by being physically part if it and allowing the funds to go through his bank account.

James Bunce was sentenced to a 12 months immediate custodial sentence and was advised that he will serve 6 months in custody and 6 months on licence.

James Bunce pleaded guilty on the 6^thApril 2018 to one count of money laundering under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and two counts of engaging in misleading commercial practices under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.