A ROOFER from Doncaster has been convicted of swindling three pensioners out of thousands of pounds.
Andrew Wilson, aged 43, of Stockbridge Lane, Bentley, charged thousands more than experts said the work should have cost after cold-calling the victims, two aged 78 and one in her 60s, York Crown Court heard.
He had pleaded guilty in December, at Selby Magistrates’ Court, to the offences against the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.
All the offences arose from complaints made to trading standards by customers, after Wilson cold-called them offering to carry out roofing work to their properties.
Wilson’s victims included a 78-year-old man living alone, who paid a total of £2,940 after repeated visits by Wilson over a period of about two months.
Wilson told the victim each time he visited that further work was needed. A chartered surveyor who later examined the work estimated its value at £875.
In a second case, a 78-year-old woman who lived alone since being recently widowed paid £500 for a job which began with an estimate of £100, but rose as Wilson told the victim further work was needed.
The chartered surveyor said some of the work carried out was not required, some was not done, and some was sub-standard.
A third case involved a woman in her 60s who paid £4,050 following several repeat visits by Wilson over a five-week period, during which time he claimed further work was needed.
The surveyor said some works were not required, others were not done and some were sub-standard. He valued the work at £1,495, compared with the £4,050 paid by the victim.
All payments were made in cash, at Wilson’s request. He failed to provide any of his victims with a written notice of their right to cancel the contracts for work to be done.
He was given a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work.
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