We've been left with a roof full of holes after cowboy builder put his FOOT through it – he forced us to pay £11,000 | The Sun
A COUPLE were left fuming after a cowboy builder forced them to pay £11,000 before leaving their roof full of holes.
Mr and Mrs Davies, bought the Wolverhampton home knowing it would need work and employed Christopher Wood of Summit Roofing Solutions Ltd in May 2021.
But the rogue trader ruined the roof at his customers' home and left it looking like "patchwork" when he fled without even finishing the job.
A court heard how Wood had claimed to be a "professional, competent and experienced" roofer, although a chartered surveyor later found his work to be incompetent.
The couple were quoted a whopping £11,546 for roofing work, which included a deposit of £4,750 and £6,796 on completion.
Mr and Mrs Davies were "concerned" about the price but agreed for the work to be done and paid in cash.
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But convict Wood made "further demands" for cash before he shoddily finished the job, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.
The 30-year-old even tried to convince his victims they were hearing from his bogus legal department when they attempted to recoup some of their losses on their home.
The work started on June 7 and ten days later Mrs Davies discovered a hole in the ceiling which “very much like someone had put their foot through it," the hearing was told.
Wood later claimed the home’s dormer windows were "not in a good state of repair" and quoted £750 plus VAT to fix them which the concerned victims agreed to.
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Prosecutor Jane Sarginson said: "They felt they had no option but to pay as he demanded."
Later that day, Wood emailed an "interim invoice" and demanded £3,420 from the couple, who handed over the full amount after fearing he would not finish the job.
And his shoddy work to their windows invalidated their 25-year guarantee, the court was told.
But his innocent victims began to realise the "nightmare" job was "becoming too difficult" for Wood.
His attendance became "sporadic", while Mrs Davies discovered damage to an internal bedroom door and holes in a wall structure.
Another interim invoice for £2,000 was then paid by the victims in "good faith" on the understanding work would be finished.
NIGHTMARE JOB
But the cowboy builder left the site with an overflowing skip and with holes in the roof which looked "like patchwork".
The court heard how Wood damaged "perfectly good cladding" and a hole in the ceiling was as a result of a "careless foot".
A chartered surveyor later valued the cowboy builder's work at just £4,650 plus VAT.
Ms Sarginson said: "He did not follow the basic rules. He made multiple demands for payment, putting financial pressure on the victims.
"They felt worried about raising problems with him. They felt they had to pay to get the job done."
In a statement read to the court, Mr Davies said: "We put up with the excuses for the delays and damages.
"The whole experience often leaves me worried about the next time I need work doing."
The court also heard how Wood left Mrs Davies in tears, while her husband "lost his temper" due to the poor standard of work – which they paid £10,920 for.
The defendant, of Wood Lane, Wolverhampton, had previous convictions for battery and criminal damage.
'POOR EXCUSES'
Benjamin Close, defending, said: "He knows the blame lies squarely at his door."
Sentencing, Judge John Butterfield KC said Wood lacked the "necessary skills" to complete the work adequately.
Wood gave the couple "poor excuses" when he failed to finish the job, including that hot weather meant felt could not be applied to the roof.
The judge added: "The work that was completed was completed in a shoddy way. Individual tasks were done badly or not at all.
"Your behaviour became so difficult they feared to raise numerous problems with you and the nightmare you were starting to cause them."
Wood admitted two counts of engaging in misleading commercial practice and one count of knowingly and recklessly engaging in commercial practice.
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He was handed an eight-month sentence, suspended for 18 months with 120 hours unpaid work.
The defendant was told also to pay £7,100 compensation and £7,000 costs.
What to do if you fall foul of a cowboy builder
COWBOY builders can easily turn a dream project into a nightmare – ruining your construction plans and eating up your treasured budget.
- If a rogue trader comes to your home offering to carry out work, you can phone 101 to report them.
- If you've fallen victim to one, you can report them to Trading Standards. Citizens' Advice has an online form to help you do this.
- You should also complain to the police, giving them as much information on the builder as possible.
- Trading Standards will decide whether to investigate based on the information you give.
- Even if it doesn't, it may keep the details you've provided in case others complain about the same company in the future.
- You could also try taking the firm to a small claims court if you've been left out of pocket.
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