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Rogue trader jailed for conning two Kent women of £40,000

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 22 Oct, 13:32 · Archive

Billy Beaney, 29, conned two women in Kent out of more than £40,000 for unnecessary building work and has been jailed for 28 months.

Billy Beaney, 29, targeted two women in Medway and Swale, persuading them that urgent repairs were needed on their homes before demanding large sums of money for incomplete or substandard work. He was sentenced to 28 months in prison at Maidstone Crown Court on 19 October after pleading guilty to two counts of fraud by false representation.

In November 2025, Beaney cold-called a woman in Gillingham, claiming a roof tile was damaged. He offered to fix it in exchange for a recommendation on his website. As he began the job, he claimed to have found further issues and increased the cost from £750 to £17,500. Three days later, he returned and said even more work was needed, raising the total to £26,000. The victim paid a deposit of £8,500 but became suspicious when she could not find his company on Checkatrade and contacted Kent Police.

In January 2026, Beaney visited a home in Sittingbourne, claiming he had taken over the company that previously worked on the property. He told the resident that earlier repairs were faulty and needed to be redone for £3,000. Over the next month, the victim made several payments, bringing the total to £34,000. When the roof began leaking, she became suspicious, told Beaney to stop work, and contacted police.

Beaney, of Stilebridge Lane, Maidstone, was arrested in Essex on 6 February. A search of his vehicle uncovered evidence linking him to the offences, including a receipt book.

Rogue trader jailed for conning two Kent women of £40,000
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In this story: Billy Beaney · Kent Police · Maidstone Crown Court · Gillingham · Sittingbourne · Maidstone · Medway · Swale

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