Rotherham man jailed for laundering proceeds of rogue trading

A Rotherham man has been jailed for one year and eight months after laundering over £34,000. The money was taken from victims of rogue traders who cold called people at their homes, including older people living alone, and pressured them into paying for unnecessary or poor-quality building work.

Michael Everton, 31, of Nightingale Croft, Rotherham, was sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court on Wednesday 23 September after previously pleading guilty to five counts of money laundering under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. His sentence follows those handed down last week (w/c 14 September 2026) to members of the criminal network responsible for the wider rogue trading operation across the North East, Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire.

Between 2022 and 2024, 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.

Last week, 22 members of that criminal operation were sentenced at Teesside Crown Court for their roles in a £1 million roofing fraud. Twelve were jailed for a combined 63 years and 3 months.

In one case, a woman in her 70s from Sheffield was cold called and told repairs were needed to the front wall of her home. Despite asking, she was not given a price before the work was carried out. She later paid £1,925 by cheque to Everton. An independent surveyor estimated the work should only have cost around £110 plus VAT.

Lord Michael Bichard, Chair of National Trading Standards, said:

“These were appalling crimes which exploited older people in their own homes, taking thousands of pounds for unnecessary, poor-quality or grossly overpriced work. Money laundering facilitates crimes like these by allowing criminals to move and benefit from money taken from their victims.

“Anyone concerned that they or someone they know has been targeted by a rogue trader should contact the Citizens Advice consumer service on 0808 223 1133.”

Cllr Jenny Kent from City of York Council, said:

“Aiding criminals to profit from and hide their crimes is often as bad as committing the offence yourself, as this sentence shows. It also makes clear that a web of illegal activities is involved in defrauding innocent people. Thanks are due to our investigators for their perseverance in securing justice, and, I hope, some kind of comfort for those defrauded.”