Rogue Calderdale trader who conned pensioner out of thousands hit with fine

Preston Magistrates' Court heard the Fulwood pensioner was tricked into paying roofer Kevin Walsh £2,000 for work he had not even done.

She asked Walsh to remove a leaking chimney in her kitchen, and to repair her main chimney and ridge tiles, after responding to a newspaper advert.

Walsh, 54, of Parkside Road, Todmorden, told her that he couldn’t remove the kitchen chimney but could reduce its size and put silver cowls on top. He gave a price of £1,800 and said they could start the next day.

The woman agreed to the work but was not given any paperwork or informed of her cancellation rights.

The following day Walsh took her into her back garden and told her that her kitchen extension roof was "bowing in the middle and needed doing".

He persuaded her to agree to further work for £2,000, saying that if he had to come back at a later date it would cost more.

The work was 'completed' on July 26 and Walsh provided an invoice detailing the work he alleged he had done.

Prosecuting for Lancashire Trading Standards, Claire Box said in December 2019 an independent surveyor, Don Waterworth was instructed by Trading Standards to examine the work alleged to have been carried out on the itemised invoice provided by Mr Walsh.

She added: " The surveyor found that work had not been done as described, in particular he stated that he found no evidence of roof and ridge tiles being replaced and or repositioned.

" In fact, Mr Waterworth concluded by stating that overall he would give a quantum of £0 value to the work alleged to have been done by Mr Walsh."

Walsh responded to interview questions sent to him by Trading Standards via e-mail, and sent a fake cancellation notice with a bogus signature by the OAP.

He later admitted unfair commercial practice by failing to provide her rights to cancel the contract, failing to provide his business address details, and misleading actions relating to the work.

He also admits forging a cancellation notice.

The court was told Walsh is also going to pay back the £3,800 to the victim.

The bench also ordered him to pay £400 in fines, a £40 victim surcharge and £1,226.99 in prosecution costs.