A rogue roofing scammer has been jailed for more than three years after scamming a retired Rossendale couple out of £1,300.
The action was taken against Christopher Parr, 36, by Lancashire County Council’s Trading Standards and Salford’s Trading Standards as the rogue trader also stole £12,886 from an elderly woman.
Using the trading name ‘Up and Over Roofing’ in November 2024 on the website Bark, Parr quoted £300 to replace missing slates on the roof of the couple's house.
Whilst he was carrying out the work he asked if he could check the loft, later telling them that the rafters were wet and rotten and roof battens and lining needed replacing, quoting them £2,000 for the work.
Despite being hesitant the couple agreed to the work, with Parr telling them the roof would collapse if they got heavy snowfall.
They paid him £1,300 – covering £300 for the replaced slates and a £1,000 deposit for the other work.
No paperwork was provided, including the legally required notice informing consumers of their cancellation rights.
With Parr, of Filey Drive, Salford, due to carry out the work a few days later, the householders discussed the loft with friends and neighbours, who started to doubt that the work in the loft was necessary and so contacted Parr to cancel.
Despite agreeing to repay the £1,000 deposit, the money was never repaid despite numerous promises, even when Trading Standards officers spoke to him.
An independent surveyor was commissioned by Trading Standards, and he reported that the suggested repairs to the rafters were “a matter of make-believe” and that the battens and linings didn’t require replacement.
He said that the roof timbers and ancillary elements to the rear roof facet were in good order and in his opinion, the suggested repairs were a deception.
Additionally, the earlier work to replace roof slates was not completed to an acceptable standard and had actually made matters worse with loose and uneven slates, valued at £0.
He was sentenced to 39 months at Preston Crown Court on Friday, January 17.
The judge also awarded compensation of £1,300 to the couple from Rossendale and £12,887 to his Salford victim, at Preston Crown Court.
Councillor Michael Green, cabinet member for health and wellbeing at Lancashire County Council, said: “By undertaking shoddy work and then quoting for fictitious repairs, Christopher Parr clearly sought to con this couple out of thousands of pounds for unnecessary 'make believe' work.
"I'm very pleased that the couple followed their gut feeling and got our Trading Standards team involved and no further money was lost to this fraudster. I am pleased that he has been brought to justice.
"Our Trading Standards Officers always take robust action to protect Lancashire householders from rogue tradesmen.
"The message is clear - if you target our residents with misleading claims or negligent work, we will prosecute you and take you off the streets.
"Rogue traders can appear to be very friendly and plausible at the start of jobs, until things go wrong, when they leave houses in chaos and turn on customers. Please therefore make detailed checks before you employ traders.
“Use the Lancashire Safe Trader Scheme, obtain recommendations from friends and family, and ensure you get multiple quotes for the work you want completing.
"Obtaining early assistance is vitally important. If you need help with a possible rogue trader, please call the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133."
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