A SERIAL rogue trader serving a three-year jail sentence for fleecing elderly customers in the Surrey area, has been ordered to repay his victims in full.

James Saunders, 51, charged extortionate sums for shoddy repairs to roofs and drains and used the proceeds to fund a lavish lifestyle – which included luxury cars, holidays and designer clothes.

He placed adverts in Surrey church and parish magazines, leading victims to believe they were dealing with a trustworthy business. Trading as Roofcare Property Maintenance, Drain Care and The Roofing Company, he would begin by quoting a reasonable price for repairs but once work had started, would quickly claim further work was needed at significant extra cost.

Tactics used to obtain payments from victims included accompanying or driving them to the bank to withdraw funds and standing over them while they made internet transfers.

Victims included an 89-year-old war veteran from near Guildford, who was cheated out of more than £42,000 making him overdrawn for the first time in his life.

Saunders was jailed in June after admitting running a fraudulent business over a six-year period while his ex-wife Rachel Roberts was given a 21-month jail sentence for laundering the proceeds of crime and stealing two BMWs.

The sentences followed an investigation by Surrey County Council’s trading standards officers.

Both Saunders and Roberts returned to Guildford Crown Court for a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing to recover money conned from victims.

The court heard the total value of Saunders’ criminal benefit was £690,000, while Roberts benefited to the tune of £660,000.

Some £505,000 was considered to have been jointly obtained.

After hearing the couple held £246,000 in assets between them, including equity in the marital home, the judge made a confiscation order demanding they repay it.

Of that sum, £114,000 will be handed straight to victims to cover not only the overpayments made, but also the cost of putting right the shoddy work carried out by Saunders.

Nine customers had been overcharged for substandard work while a 10th was quoted a reasonable price but had to pay another trader to rectify mistakes by Saunders.

Saunders was given until March to hand over his share of assets or face a further eight months in jail and still owe the sum. Roberts, who is the named owner of the marital home, must pay by the same date or face a further 27 months in jail, as well as still being liable to repay the money.

Richard Walsh, Surrey County Council’s cabinet member for localities and community wellbeing, said: “Saunders lined his pockets at the expense of elderly customers he cruelly conned and now he’s going to pay for those crimes.

“I’m pleased people who were scammed by this serial rogue trader will be given every penny back thanks to thorough and dogged investigations by our trading standards team.”