Rogue Southampton builder conned Fareham victims out of £67k

Paul Gaffney, of Milton Road, Southampton, was jailed at Portsmouth Crown Court for charges of fraud.

He targeted three households in the Fareham area to carry out building and property maintenance but completed little or no work, defrauding his victims out of more than £67,000 to fund his lifestyle and gambling habit. 

Gaffney targeted three houses in the Fareham area (Image: Portsmouth City Council)

In 2021, the now 61-year-old convinced two of his victims in Portchester, aged 68 and 78, to use their pension savings and sell their motorhome for unnecessary work and medical appointments. 

They were conned out of £62,785 in total. 

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Gaffney convinced his elderly victims that he had a background in large building projects and could open their downstairs space, replace the kitchen, and build a conservatory.

While waiting for the kitchen to be delivered, a kitchen that Gaffney never ordered, the rogue trader made false claims of other work that was needed, including issues with the damp proof course, flat roof, chimney, and mains water pipe. 

An independent surveyor confirmed little work was completed.

But Gaffney didn't stop there, conning them out of another £2,300 after he heard one of his victims had suspected cancer. 

He convinced them he could arrange for fast-track diagnostic scans at a private hospital and impersonated the surgeon's secretary in a phone call where he withheld his number. 

The victims' bank was able to refund some of the losses as most of the £62,785 was paid in bank transfers, excluding about £3,500 of the early cash transactions.

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Paul Gaffney ripped the bathroom out but did not replace or undertake the work. (Image: Portsmouth City Council)

In 2020, another elderly victim in Portchester was conned into paying Gaffney for work that was never completed, including flashing to a chimney and kitchen extension, and renewing the kitchen floor.

Another victim paid the rogue trader £180 for replacement fence panels in 2021, however after months of them not materialising, in November 2021 the victim got a refund after threatening to contact police.

Although, following a storm in February 2022, Gaffney returned to the Fareham home and pleaded for a second chance.

Gaffney's victims lost more than £67,000 in total (Image: Portsmouth City Council)

The homeowner agreed and handed over £300 for the fences and a step to be installed and the rogue trader never returned to complete the work.

Gaffney was also convicted of breaching a criminal behaviour order.

He was also given a 10-year criminal behaviour order prohibiting him from offering his own or others' services for building work.

It follows a joint investigation in 2014 that resulted in Gaffney being sentenced to nine years in jail for over £105,000 in fraud against 18 victims.

Successful confiscation proceedings secured compensation for the homeowners.

In 2022, a Portsmouth Trading Standards investigation resulted in the 75-hours Community Order and a Criminal Behaviour Order of five years, which he subsequently breached and has now been sentenced for.