West Sussex rogue trader jailed after cheating homeowners out of £68,000

The council’s Trading Standards team said Greg Hames, 59 – of Oak Way, Crawley – took substantial deposits for home improvements, including conservatories, orangeries, bi-fold doors and roof lanterns, but left customers without work or goods they had paid for.

A council statement – on Wednesday, October 28 – read: “A rogue trader who defrauded customers out of more than £68,000 has been sentenced to three years' imprisonment at Lewes Crown Court following an extensive investigation by West Sussex Trading Standards.

“Greg Hames operated a home improvement business specialising in orangeries and conservatories across West Sussex and the South of England. However, behind a succession of false identities, trading names and limited companies, he systematically deceived homeowners into paying for work and products that were never delivered.

“West Sussex Trading Standards found that Mr Hames obtained £68,120 through his fraudulent trading between 2018 and 2023.”

On October 15, 2026, Mr Hames was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court to three years' imprisonment, the council said. He had pleaded guilty to fraud offences, and was disqualified from acting as a company director for eight years.

The statement continued: “Investigators uncovered a sophisticated pattern of deception. Hames regularly changed the names of his businesses and used different combinations of first names and surnames to avoid detection. When complaints mounted and customers were left out of pocket, the businesses would disappear, only to re-emerge under new names and often from different locations.

“Hames routinely took substantial deposits for building work and home improvement products, including bi-fold doors and roof lanterns. In many cases, little or no work was completed, while goods that had been paid for were either never delivered or only partially supplied.”

According to Trading Standards, the investigation also revealed that Hames ‘falsely claimed to employ his own team of tradespeople’ and ‘misrepresented his professional credentials’.

‘To gain customers’ trust’, he ‘provided fake references and testimonials’. He did this by ‘using email accounts under his control to impersonate satisfied clients’, the council said.

It added: “Once deposits had been paid, communication with customers would often cease, leaving them without the promised products or services and facing significant financial losses. One victim lost £14,000.

“Action is now being taken to recover as much as possible of the lost money under the Proceeds of Crime Act.”

Tracie Bangert is the council’s cabinet member for community support. She said: "Rogue traders can cause significant financial and emotional distress to their victims, often targeting people who are simply trying to improve their homes.

"This case demonstrates the persistence and dedication of our Trading Standards team in bringing offenders to justice, and I am pleased that this investigation has resulted in a successful conviction.

"I would encourage residents to protect themselves by carrying out thorough checks before employing a trader and by using trusted schemes such as the Buy With Confidence website to find approved local businesses."

To report rogue traders to Trading Standards, visit: https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/business-and-consumers/trading-standards-information-for-consumers/report-an-incident-or-issue-to-trading-standards/

You can also call Citizens Advice on 0808 223 1133.