Bogus builder who conned High Peak homeowner out of £25,000 is jailed

A self-confessed ‘con-man’ has been jailed after taking more than £140,000 from homeowners for roofing work he wasn’t qualified to carry out.

Stewart Langton left work unfinished and homeowners facing forking out thousands of pounds more to rectify the work he had done.

Despite a Criminal Behaviour Order banning him from taking on new building work or canvassing for jobs, Langton contacted one victim after she responded to a Facebook advert looking for someone to repair a small leak on her roof.

Derbyshire Police said that, after giving an initial quote of £1,800 , Langton claimed to find serious hidden defects in the roof and told the homeowner repairs would cost £50,000.

The victim paid £48,000 across multiple instalments - mostly in cash as Langton said the money was needed urgently for a supplier that would only accept cash.

But she became suspicious and when she brought her concerns to Langton, he became aggressive and left without finishing the job.

After an independent roofing inspector identified defective work from Langton, the homeowner reported the fraud and Langton was arrested.

In interview, Langton described himself as a con-man and blamed the Probation Service for not allowing him to sell cars, saying that due to this he “went back to what I do best, ripping people off”.

The 37-year-old of Clifton Avenue, Blackpool, pleaded guilty to committing fraud by false representation and breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order.

He also admitted six other fraud offences across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and the West Midlands which were taken into account on sentencing:

• Carlton, Nottinghamshire: Langton took £6,000 from a homeowner by stating more work was needed than necessary.
• Barton in Fabis, Nottinghamshire: he completed more work than was required and overcharged the victim, billing them £14,000.
• Whaley Bridge, Derbyshire: Langton charged the owner £25,000, completed more work than required and left the job unfinished. This cost the homeowner £35,000 to repair.
• Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands: Langton charged £15,000, he admitted overcharging and did not completing work satisfactorily.
• Birmingham, West Midlands: Langton charged £30,000 for a new roof when it wasn’t required, also admitted overcharging victim.
• Birmingham, West Midlands: Langton admitted defrauding an elderly vulnerable woman, driving her to the bank to withdraw thousands of pounds to fix her roof.

He appeared at Derby Crown Court and was sentenced to four years and ten months in prison.