A ROGUE trader who left victims more than £40,000 out of pocket after carrying out fraudulent roofing and property maintenance work has been jailed.
Richard Phillip Murnane, 42, operated across Neath Port Talbot under the names RM Property and Maintenance and S & R Roofing.
Neath Port Talbot Council said Murnane knowingly ran RM Property and Maintenance for a fraudulent purpose between July 13, 2021, and June 1, 2023.
He also operated S & R Roofing between December 7, 2022, and April 1, 2023, while carrying out similar fraudulent activity.
The case involved five victims, many of whom were elderly, who collectively lost around £40,000 after paying for poor-quality work at their homes.
Murnane was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court on June 19, 2026, after being convicted of two fraud offences.
He received a 32-month prison sentence for offences linked to RM Property and Maintenance, and a further 13 months for offences relating to S & R Roofing. The sentences will run concurrently.
Cllr Cen Phillips, Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Member for Nature, Tourism and Wellbeing, whose portfolio includes Trading Standards, said the case showed the serious impact rogue traders can have on residents.
He said: “This case demonstrates the serious impact rogue traders and fraudulent businesses have on residents, particularly older and more vulnerable members of our communities.
“The victims in this case suffered significant financial losses and considerable distress after placing their trust in someone who deliberately set out to deceive them.
“I welcome the outcome at Swansea Crown Court and commend the dedication and professionalism of Neath Port Talbot Trading Standards officers, whose lengthy and complex investigation brought Richard Murnane to justice.”
Neath Port Talbot Council is reminding residents to take extra care when hiring tradespeople and to report suspicious activity to Trading Standards.
