Rogue tradesman in £4k roof con on pensioner

A rogue trader who duped a pensioner into having almost £4,000 worth of work done to his garage has been fined and ordered to pay compensation.

Wolverhampton Magistrates Court were told how 24-year-old Nino Lee, trading as NL Services (Europe) Ltd, pushed misleading fliers through people's doors advertising a 50 per cent reduction in fibre glass roofs – when in fact the figure had been made up.

Lee, of Bull Lane, Coven Heath, pleaded guilty yesterday to four charges of misleading customers, after he carried out work at the home of a pensioner aged in his 80s.

Prosecuting Mrs Jacky Bramley, told the court the victim replied to the flier and made an appointment with Mr Lee for work to his garage roof.

She said Lee filled out paperwork for the job, priced at £1,400 which he claimed was a 50 per cent cut to the usual cost of £2,800. He was later unable to explain how he had calculated the cost.

When the work started days later Mr Lee told the customer the garage roof needed insulation due to an electric light fitting which would cost a total of £3,955.

An expert survey later revealed the garage did not in fact need insulation.

Mrs Bramley told the court the victim felt he had to go ahead as part of the felt had already been removed.

She said the victim's son contacted Trading Standards which sent officers to negotiate with Lee.

She told the court: "The victim was visibly shaken and said he would have paid the full amount had Trading Standards not been there."

An expert building survey found the reasonable cost of the work was £1,051.

Defending Mr Khalid Bashir said his client accepted his guilt and had fully cooperated.

The magistrates fined Lee and his company a total of £3,310, including compensation and a victim surcharge.