Rogue cowboy builder 'took £26k from woman, 80, and left her with half a roof'

A rogue roofer left a trail of destruction across Lancashire, conning homeowners out of more than £200,000 and leaving them with exposed roofs, damaged gardens and overflowing gutters.

Operating under various business names between 2022 and 2024 in Preston, Blackpool and Cheshire,  Stewart Langton, 34, caused his customers financial difficulties, anxiety and stress.

Trading Standards initiated an investigation following numerous complaints about Langton quoting low rates for work, only to significantly increase the prices once the job had begun. He left work unfinished and threatened to abandon jobs if large sums were not paid immediately.

One elderly woman was taken to the bank daily by Langton to withdraw extra money after being quoted £2,000 for new fascias and guttering. Over five days, she handed over £26,000 before refusing to pay any more.

The pensioner was left with a partially tiled roof, sheeting covering large parts of it and numerous leaks causing damage within the house.

Another woman, on maternity leave with her nine-month-old baby, was initially quoted £400 to fix a leak at her home. However, Langton quickly claimed additional work was required, costing her an extra £8,000, reports Lancs Live.

Despite paying the sum, the job remained unfinished, leaving the woman anxious about potential harm to her child from falling debris.

In another instance, a man was quoted £1,800 for damp repair, only to be informed of a larger issue once work commenced - one that would cost £13,000 to rectify. Upon discussing the matter with his wife, he returned to find a gaping hole in his roof.

His request for immediate repair was denied unless he paid £6,000 upfront.

Langton, from Whalley Lane, Blackpool, has been sentenced to four years and three months in prison after admitting to running a fraudulent business. He's also received a 10-year criminal behaviour order, prohibiting him from working on people's homes.

Preston Crown Court heard how a total of 10 individuals handed over £202,030 to Langton, with many being told even larger sums would be needed to complete the work. Many of his victims are now facing hefty bills to mend the damage inflicted on their properties.

The prosecution explained: "The complaints identified a pattern whereby small quotes were initially being given by Langton, usually for a leak or small guttering repairs. Then within a very short period of time of work starting, typically the first day and even within the first hour of the workers arriving, Langton would escalate the work needed to a much bigger, and much more expensive job."

"The consumers would then be faced with the prospect of either agreeing to this extra work and having to pay further large amounts of money, or being left with an exposed roof, typically with the threat of the workers walking off the job if they wouldn't immediately agree and pay the extra money demanded."

Between 2022 and 2024, Langton operated under multiple business monikers, such as SJ Contractors, Northwest Roofing, SJL Roofing and Home Maintenance, Blackpool Roofing Services, Preston Roofing, Preston Roofcare and Preston Roof Repairs.

An Independent Surveyor engaged by Lancashire County Council Trading Standards found that a significant portion of the work executed by Mr Langton was subpar and incomplete. He also discovered that several elements had been misrepresented to the consumers and that many had forked out for work that was not required in the first place.

A proceeds of crime hearing connected to Langton's fraudulent business activities is slated for October 2024.