A ROOFER has been told to pay £6,000 after carrying out shoddy work at a couple’s home.

Stephen Robert Thompson, of Whessoe Road, Darlington, pleaded guilty to consumer protection offences at Peterlee Magistrates Court following an investigation by Hartlepool Borough Council’s Trading Standards Team.

Thompson, 31, who was trading as Right Price Roofing Ltd, charged a couple, who were approaching retirement, £5,000 to fit a full new roof on their home in Hartlepool.

The court heard Thompson had asked for £3,000 to buy new roof tiles and then asked for £2,000 for further materials.

However, Hartlepool Trading Standards team said the work carried out was so poor it needed to be completely re-done by a different roofing company.

As part of their investigation, Hartlepool Trading Standards instructed a charted building surveyor to review the standard of the work.

The surveyor concluded that the quality of work was not fit for purpose and it needed to be stripped and re-done, the council said.

Thompson will have to pay a total of £6,000 in fines and compensation.

Ian Harrison, the council’s trading standards and licensing manager, said: “The quality of this work was horrendous and my sympathies go to the homeowners who had to live with the worry and disruption caused. Significant damage was caused to the property which took many months to resolve.

“I am pleased with the result in court today and hope it sends a message to other cowboy builders that we will investigate shoddy work and not hesitate to prosecute those responsible.”

"If a trader has carried out unsatisfactory work on your home, for advice you should call the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 250 5050.

"All information provided will be forwarded to your local Trading Standards department for review."