A ROOFER found himself in court after he charged an elderly pensioner £120 for a roof repair without giving her the chance to change her mind.

David Gascoigne called unannounced at the 85-year-old's Hartburn home, near Stockton, offering his services in September last year.

Teesside Magistrates' Court heard Gascoigne was up on the pensioner's roof without permission before coming down and telling her the roof needed essential work.

When the woman paid £120 for the repairs to her chimney and a ridge tile, she was given a receipt which didn't show Gascoigne's name or a current contact number.

The builder, who trades as Assured Roofing and Building Specialists, Lowthian Road, Hartlepool, pleaded guilty to breach of contract for failing to offer a seven-day cooling-off period and two charges under the business names act for failing to ensure the receipt had a legible name and contact number.

Roisin McKenzie, representing Stockton Borough Council, said: "This was a well-rehearsed routine that is designed to cause concern for homeowners who then agree to have the work done."

In mitigation, John Constable said Gascoigne had not used bullying tactics to get the pensioner to pay.

"He is not a man who is wholly aware of the legal requirement," he said. "This was not an attempt by him to bully old people into making a contract."

Magistrates fined Gascoigne £900 for the offences, ordered him to pay £350 towards costs and £120 compensation to the pensioner.