Cowboy roofer jailed

Stephen Allen, aged 41, of Station Road, Stechford, Birmingham, was a crucial part of a gang that left a trail of victims in Great Barr, Oldbury, Cannock, Birmingham, and West Bromwich, massively out of pocket – and often with their homes in worse shape than they started in.

Working as part of a team that included 37-year-old Vincent Smith, of Eastfield Road, Bordesley Green, Allen cold-called a host of pensioners telling them they needed emergency roofing work on their homes, Birmingham Crown Court heard.

Operating under a variety of names, including Alderbrook Roofing, Bishop's Property Services, Haden's Property Services, and Initial Building Services, they charged extortionate rates for jobs that were never properly done and sometimes not done at all.

The gang's known victims have been warned that neither Smith nor Allen has assets that can be liquidated to pay compensation, even though the £72,000-plus they conned out of them between March 2002 and January 2005 could just be the tip of the iceberg.

One victim handed over almost £20,000, while another 84-year-old woman was driven to a building society to withdraw money.

Allen last year pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to defraud after prosecutors and Sandwell Trading Standards officers compiled a case with 10 of the gang's victims. They were alerted to the fraudsters by the neighbours of one of their victims, and began gathering evidence.

Smith was convicted of the same charges after a trial last November, and should have been sentenced yesterday, but failed to attend court, claiming to be ill.

Recorder Mr Tom Rochford issued a warrant for Smith's arrest and rescheduled his sentencing to next week.

Jailing Allen yesterday he said the defendant had caused a great deal of alarm and suffering to his victims.

"These were particularly wicked offences committed without remorse or feeling against people who were targeted because of their vulnerability," he said.