Rogue Lincolnshire roofer who overcharged victims jailed

Quenton Allen, 37, was sentenced to 20 months in jail

A roofer who targeted elderly and vulnerable people in Lincolnshire, carrying out unnecessary work to a "very poor standard", has been jailed.

Quenton Allen, 37, also charged his victims well above the going rate for the work, Trading Standards said.

Appearing at Lincoln Crown Court, Allen, of Mill Lane, Wrangle, was sentenced to 20 months in jail.

He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge and handed an indefinite criminal behaviour order.

'Rogue traders'

In one case, Allen, who had previously pleaded guilty to six offences in relation to a lack of professional diligence, rebuilt a chimney, which an expert from Lincolnshire County Council found was much shorter than the original, and posed a safety risk.

Another customer was asked to part with their vintage car as part payment for the work that had been carried out.

It was deemed that the work was not required in the first place, and was carried out to a "very poor standard", Trading Standards said.

Senior officer Sally Gray said Allen had duped his victims after handing out leaflets.

"The leaflets handed to them - despite looking legitimate - had a fictitious company name on them, so none of them really knew who they were dealing with," she said.

"In one case, the consumer was taken to the bank to withdraw the cash to pay Mr Allen and another was asked to part with their vintage car as part payment for the work that had been carried out."

Speaking to BBC Radio Lincolnshire, Ms Gray said people were often reluctant to report "rogue traders due to feeling embarrassed about being conned".

"As consumers, we are pretty rubbish at waiting for the right person to come and do the job, especially if we are frightened into thinking there is a major problem with our house," she added.

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