Pensioners swindled by rogue roofer (From York Press)

Pensioners swindled by rogue Selby roofer Andrew Wilson

8:29am Wednesday 13th March 2013 in News

A ROGUE roofer who bullied and swindled three Selby pensioners out of hundreds of pounds has been told by a judge he is “very lucky” not to be going to jail.

Andrew Wilson repeatedly visited a 78-year-old man, who lived alone at his Camblesforth home, over a two-month period telling him each time that more work was needed and conning him out of £2,940, despite a chartered surveyor later estimating the value of the repairs to be only £875.

Wilson, 43, of Stockbridge Lane, Bentley, Doncaster, also targeted a 78-year-old Selby widower, who paid £500 for a job which began with an estimate of £100, but increased as Wilson said further work was required. The surveyor said this work was “not fit for purpose and effectively has no value whatsoever”.

A third case saw a Brayton woman in her 60s pay £4,050 after several cold-call visits by Wilson in the space of five weeks, with the work he did – independently valued at £1,495 – causing a “significant risk” of water getting into her home.

Wilson’s business, Weatherguard, was investigated by North Yorkshire County Council trading standards teams, and he admitted offences contrary to the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations between July 2011 and January 2012. He was given a nine-month suspended prison sentence and ordered to do 250 hours’ unpaid work.

York Crown Court heard Wilson requested cash payments and failed to provide victims with a written notice of their right to cancel the contracts for his work. Sentencing him, Recorder Christopher Attwooll said he “ripped off” the pensioners, saying: “You are a cowboy builder who bullied your customers into allowing you to do their work.

“Offending of this type always attracts a degree of disgust from the public.”

A Proceeds of Crime Act hearing will be held to recover any assets Wilson gained through his crimes and compensate his victims.

Coun Chris Metcalfe, the county council’s executive member for trading standards, said: “This once again demonstrates our determination to ensure all residents are protected from bogus builders. It also shows how important it is for the public to be vigilant and alert trading standards or the police immediately if they are targeted by these criminals.”