Twelve members of a 23-strong building fraud network that swindled more than £1m from 43 victims have been handed custodial sentences at Teesside Crown Court. The combined sentences total 63 years and three months.
Frederick Finney, 48, described as one of the "conspiracy architects", and his wife Carla Finney, 48, branded a "prolific money launderer", both played key roles in the scheme that pressured homeowners across the region into paying vastly inflated prices for unnecessary or substandard roofing and building work.
Investigation into overpriced work
A major investigation was launched by the National Trading Standards Yorkshire and Humber Regional Investigation Team into a catalogue of unnecessary, poor-quality and grossly overpriced work carried out between 2021 and 2024. Middlesbrough's Trading Standards team became involved from the very beginning after officers received complaints from nine elderly victims in Marton. This intelligence was passed on to Trading Standards officers in Northumberland before feeding into the wider investigation led by Yorkshire and Humber.
The inquiry also exposed an extensive money laundering network that was used to move and conceal victims' funds across numerous bank accounts. The scam typically began with homeowners being cold-called about relatively minor jobs, such as clearing gutters or replacing a roof tile. Once work got under way, victims would be told that far more extensive and urgent repairs were needed, with costs spiralling rapidly into thousands or even tens of thousands of pounds.
Vulnerable victims targeted
The criminal network deliberately preyed upon vulnerable individuals, including the elderly, those living in isolation, and people suffering from ill health. Among those targeted was a woman in her late 70s from New Marske, who was cold-called by Frederick Finney and initially agreed to repairs on her garage roof. She was later persuaded that her main roof required a full replacement and, over the course of the following year, handed over £94,700 — a chartered building surveyor subsequently found the work to have been carried out to a very poor standard, valuing it at just £3,107.
Finney, formerly of Bickerton, West Yorkshire, was one of the key architects of the conspiracy and employed a network of money launderers to receive and redistribute victims' funds. The network included his wife, Carla Finney, of Hillfield Close, Seamer, North Yorkshire, whom prosecutors described as a prolific money launderer. She operated 14 bank accounts through which £381,152 linked to the conspiracy was traced.
Sentencing and comments
Handing down sentences at Teesside Crown Court, Judge Joanne Kidd said: "Money laundering is a disease that allows serious crime to take place." Lord Bichard, Chair of National Trading Standards, said: "These offenders deliberately targeted people who were isolated, unwell or grieving. They abused their trust and took life-changing sums of money, before trying to hide the proceeds through an extensive network of bank accounts. This was calculated criminality that caused serious financial and emotional harm."
Councillor Ian Blades, Middlesbrough Council's Executive member for Neighbourhoods, added: "Congratulations to all involved in this complex investigation which has taken some truly callous and dangerous people off the streets. By preying on the elderly and the vulnerable they spread untold misery, but this case sends out a clear message that they can and will be caught and brought to justice."
Full sentencing details
Seven members of the gang were sentenced on Tuesday, September 15. Frederick Finney, 48, of HMP Holme House (previously of Bickerton, West Yorkshire) – sentenced to six years nine months imprisonment after pleading guilty to conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to convert criminal property. Carla Finney, 48, of Hillfield Close, Seamer, North Yorkshire – sentenced to five years' imprisonment after being convicted of conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to convert criminal property. Andrew Carty, 37, of HMP Dovegate (previously of Normanby, Scunthorpe) – sentenced to five years and four months imprisonment after pleading guilty to conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to convert criminal property. Michael Olssen, 38, of Richmond Road, Hessle, Humberside – sentenced to four years and 11 months imprisonment after pleading guilty to conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to convert criminal property. Shannon Finney, 22, of Hillfield Close, Seamer, North Yorkshire – sentenced to 18 months imprisonment suspended for two years after being convicted of conspiracy to convert criminal property. Christopher Morley, 36, of North Lincolnshire – sentenced to 24 months imprisonment suspended for two years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to convert criminal property. Allan Smith, 36, of Gainford, Birtley, Gateshead – sentenced to 12 months imprisonment suspended for two years after pleading guilty to two fraud offences and converting criminal property.
A further seven were sentenced on Wednesday, September 16. Walter Farrow, 55, of Birch Close, Stokesley, North Yorkshire – sentenced to seven years and two months' imprisonment after pleading guilty to conspiracy to defraud, conspiracy to convert criminal property and two separate fraud offences. Tyler McBride, 30, of Chaucer Road, Darlington, Durham – sentenced to six years' imprisonment after being convicted of conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to convert criminal property. Isaac Farrow, 31, of Sewerby Crescent, Stokesley, North Yorkshire – sentenced to five years and four months' imprisonment after pleading guilty to conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to convert criminal property. Michael Mather, 35, of HMP Northumberland (previously of Kingsbury Mews, Darlington) – sentenced to four years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to convert criminal property. Charlie Farrow, 37, of Hillfield Close, Seamer, North Yorkshire – sentenced to three years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to conspiracy to convert criminal property. Sonja Edgar, 44, of Apple Tree Road, Stokesley, North Yorkshire – sentenced to three years' imprisonment suspended for three years after being convicted of conspiracy to convert criminal property. Daniel Moody, 34, whereabouts unknown – sentenced to six years' imprisonment after being convicted in his absence of conspiracy to convert criminal property following a trial.
The final eight defendants were sentenced on Thursday, September 17. Shane Farrow, 33, of Birch Close, Stokesley, North Yorkshire – sentenced to six years and three months' imprisonment after pleading guilty to conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to convert criminal property. Thomas Winter, 34, of HMP Northumberland (previously of Guisborough, North Yorkshire) – sentenced to 42 months' imprisonment after pleading guilty to conspiracy to convert criminal property. Ryan Watson, 27, of Darnton Drive, Middlesbrough – sentenced to two years' imprisonment suspended for two years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to convert criminal property. Serena Robertson, 25, of Hebron Road, Stokesley, North Yorkshire – sentenced to two years' imprisonment suspended for two years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to convert criminal property. Chelsea Bayliss, 24, of Allen Court, Stokesley, North Yorkshire – sentenced to two years' imprisonment suspended for two years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to convert criminal property. James Hope, 37, of Gainford, Gateshead – sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment suspended for two years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to convert criminal property. Nicole O'Brien, 36, of South Parkway, Seacroft, Leeds – sentenced to two years' imprisonment suspended for two years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to convert criminal property. Ben Ware, 34, of York Road, Tadcaster, North Yorkshire – sentenced to two years' imprisonment suspended for two years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to convert criminal property.
Michael Everton, 31, of Nightingale Croft, Rotherham, was sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court after pleading guilty to five counts of money laundering under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. Everton received payments totalling £34,688 linked to rogue roofing and property repair work carried out at the homes of five victims in Sheffield. Independent surveyors found that work carried out was unnecessary, incomplete, poorly performed and grossly overcharged. Everton's offending was uncovered by the National Trading Standards Yorkshire and Humber Regional Investigation Team – hosted by City of York Council - as part of its wider investigation into the major organised crime group operating across the north of England.
Anyone who believes they or someone they know may have been targeted by a rogue trader should contact the Citizens Advice consumer service on 0808 223 1133.
