Rogue roofer gets ASBO

A roofer who conned victims into paying for unneeded roof repairs has been given an ASBO after a successful prosecution by the Trading Standards Office.

Gwyn Hamilton, from Winsford in Cheshire, was convicted of several offences at Chester Crown Court on 29 April after a two-year investigation into his roofing and maintenance business, which traded as Northwest Roofing, Fascia Finish, Hamilton & Sons and G&J Roofing.

The court heard that Hamilton cold-called on his victims and pressurised them into having work done that was often neither needed nor desired, then failed to notify them properly of their right to cancel within seven days.

Hamilton pleaded guilty to two offences under the Trade Description Act and six offences under the Consumer Protection (Cancellation of Contracts Concluded Away from Business Premises) Regulations 1987, asking for two further offences to be taken into consideration.

As well as being given an antisocial behaviour order (ASBO) preventing him from cold-calling for two years, Hamilton was sentenced to 150 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £11,755 costs and £3,750 compensation to his victims. He was also told he must forfeit two vehicles seized by trading standards officers.

His Honour Judge Elgan Edwards described Hamilton as “treating his customers with complete contempt” and said that such conduct “simply will not be tolerated”.

Dr Paul McGreary, head of Cheshire Trading Standards, said: “The imposition of an ASBO means that if Hamilton is discovered cold-calling during the next two years he can be brought back before the courts and sentenced to up to five years in prison.”

Supt Jon Betts of Cheshire police said: “Cheshire Police, together with our partner agencies, is working hard to put a stop to this type of offence and the ASBO will give us greater powers to monitor Hamilton and take more stringent action if necessary.”