Rogue trader who conned Hemel Hempstead pensioner out of £10,000 and left roof in ‘dangerous condition’ given suspended jail sentence
A rogue trader who conned a pensioner from Hemel Hempstead out of £10,000 and left a roof in a ‘dangerous condition’ has been given a suspended prison sentence.
Peter Howarth, 28, of no fixed address, was given an 18-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, after Luton Crown Court heard how he conned an 83-year-old Hemel Hempstead resident out of the money for work on a flat roof at their property, which was used as a garden terrace.
Howarth was spared jail despite admitting offences of fraudulent trading, unfair commercial practices and money laundering however he was ordered to pay the homeowner £10,000 in compensation, the full amount lost.
An investigation by Hertfordshire County Council’s Trading Standards team found that the resident contacted Howarth’s company Marleyroofingandbuilding Ltd in September 2024 after receiving a flyer from the firm.
She agreed to pay £6,000 for repairs to the garage roof, however once Howarth started the work, he claimed additional repairs were required and increased the price to £10,000.
The homeowner paid the money by cheque, which was deposited into Howarth’s bank account.
A total of £8,000 was withdrawn in cash by Howarth within days of receiving the payments from the victim.
An independent roofing surveyor sent by Trading Standards found that the work had been conducted to a very poor standard, that rotten structural beams had not been replaced and that the roof remained unsafe and at risk of collapsing.
The surveyor concluded that the work provided no value and the £10,000 charge represented a ‘significant overcharge.’
A Criminal Behaviour Order has been issued against Howarth to protect the public from his business practices.
Under the terms of the order Howarth cannot approach any residential property without invitation for commercial purposes relating to property maintenance, deliver flyers or leaflets to residential properties, carry out property maintenance work without express written permission from the homeowner, after first providing full details of the works and the cost in writing and contact or target any person over 65 or any person believed to be vulnerable for any contractual purpose.
He has also been disqualified from being a company director for six years.
Marleyroofingandbuilding Ltd has been fined £250, with an investigation finding that the business had been registered using a false address on Companies House.
The homeowner used the roof as a balcony and in a Victim Impact Statement read out in court she said: “I had hoped that the repairs would provide me a space to enjoy outside but instead I’ve paid out a large amount of money, and the space is still not safe to be used. I would like just to be able to walk out and enjoy it again, but I can’t."
Passing sentence, the judge said the offending involved the "direct targeting of a vulnerable victim."
Hertfordshire County Council’s executive member for public health and community safety Cllr Ajanta Hilton said: “This case demonstrates the devastating impact rogue traders can have on residents, particularly older and potentially vulnerable people.
“The homeowner paid a substantial amount of money and was left with roofing work that was not only poor quality but potentially dangerous.
“Hertfordshire Trading Standards will continue to investigate and prosecute those who exploit consumers for financial gain.
“I would encourage residents to take precautions when choosing traders and to report any concerns so that action can be taken to protect others."