Horsham builder defrauded residents out of tens of thousands of pounds

Sarah Page
By Sarah Page
Published 3rd Oct 2023, 16:14 BST
Updated 3rd Oct 2023, 16:28 BST
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A Horsham builder has been given a suspended sentence for defrauding residents out of £74,500 through unnecessary and over-priced roofing work.

West Sussex County Council’s Trading Standards brought the case against 32-year-old Samuel Luke Kwame Noye, of Millthorpe Road in Horsham, who traded under the name Direct Property Maintenance.

Lewes Crown Court, sitting at Brighton on September 28, heard that Noye’s five victims from Horsham and Crawley, aged between 48 and 78, were defrauded out of tens of thousands of pounds.

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The biggest loss was £21,300 with many victims also having to pay out more to have the work put right.

Trading Standards say: 'Rogue builders aren't always easy to spot and are very good at duping homeowners'Trading Standards say: 'Rogue builders aren't always easy to spot and are very good at duping homeowners'
Trading Standards say: 'Rogue builders aren't always easy to spot and are very good at duping homeowners'

The court heard how Samuel Noye began his fraudulent activities in June 2020 and faced nine charges of misleading and overcharging for roofing work at five West Sussex properties. An expert chartered surveyor who assessed Noye's work condemned it as ‘abysmal’ and ‘extremely poor.’

Noye pleaded guilty to two offences, one of money laundering and another under the Fraud Act 2006. The court set a hearing date in March 2024 for confiscation of property under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

County Councillor Duncan Crow, cabinet member for community support, said after the hearing: “Noye preyed on his victims by deliberately misleading them into agreeing to roofing work that was done extremely poorly, leaving victims distressed and out of pocket by tens of thousands of pounds.

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“This fraudster took money from vulnerable victims and West Sussex County Council's Trading Standards team urges residents to remain wary of traders who approach homeowners on the doorstep and stresses the importance of doing your homework before hiring anyone. This recent incident serves as a clear reminder of the risks.”

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Trading Standards team manager Richard Sargeant said: “Rogue builders aren't always easy to spot and are very good at duping homeowners. Residents are urged to be extremely cautious of anyone who turns up on their doorstep offering to do work – that perhaps they didn't even think they needed – at 'too good to be true' prices. Ask friends and relatives for recommendations of traders they have used or find a trader who is part of an approval scheme such as ‘Buy with Confidence.’”