Rogue roofer jailed after targeting elderly women in £11,000 scam

Christopher Wood's shoddy replacement of the adjoining properties' roofs was so bad it will have to be done again, a judge heard.

The 29-year-old pressurised and confused the victims - one of whom was aged 86 at the time - into agreeing to the work which he abandoned without finishing despite being paid in full, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

He gave "quotes" on scraps of paper but produced fake receipts on headed notepaper in an attempt to mislead investigators, revealed Mr Mark Jackson, prosecuting on behalf of Sandwell Council.

Wood, who traded as RSM Roofline, called on the home of the first victim in August 2016 and was asked to check the coping stones on the side of the Barnfield Road, Tipton property.

He did this and told her the roof needed to be completely replaced which she agreed together with other work at an overall cost of £6,155.

The defendant and two colleagues threw tiles off her roof onto the path and drive before covering the stripped area with a tarpaulin which was blown away during the night causing the partial flooding of a bedroom.

Wood never completed the work and an expert noted 22 major faults while examining the building that had at least 110 loose and dislodged tiles on the roof, continued Mr Jackson who added: "He failed to meet the standard of skill and care expected of a diligent roofer."

Meanwhile the bodger made a cold call on the next door neighbour alleging tiles were broken on her part of the roof which could be replaced cheaper if done at the same time as the other property. The prosecutor maintained: "She agreed after unwarranted persistence and pressure," paying £5,550 for work which was riddled with mistakes and never finished.

The defendant, from Clifton Street, Bilston with previous convictions for theft and assaulting his former partner, pleaded not guilty but was convicted of contravening the requirements of professional diligence and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Mr Richard Gibbs, defending, said Wood had given his solicitor £11,500 to compensate the two victims but refused to accept his guilt.

Judge Barry Berlin jailed the defendant and said: "You saw two soft targets and confused them with your patter before leaving them in an unholy mess with your uncompleted, shockingly incompetent work.

"It was not dishonest from the start but you then tried to put the authorities on the wrong track with bogus paperwork."