A rogue roofer has pleaded guilty to fraud after charging a Kenilworth householder thousands for unnecessary work.

At Warwick Crown Court on Wednesday 12 June 2024, Louis William Gaskin (age 20 of Windmill Lane Balsall Common) pleaded guilty to three offences under the Fraud Act 2006.

Gaskin, who traded as Pitch Roofing Ltd, was found to have lied to a householder in Kenilworth in April 2023 that £33,420 was a fair and proper price for work he was carrying out.

In May 2023 he also told the householder they owed him a further £9,240 in VAT and then told them the weight of the roof was bending and distorting the soffits and fascias which would all need replacing at a cost of £18,000 plus VAT.

He will be sentenced at Warwick Crown Court on 8 August 2024.

Warwickshire County Councillor Andy Crump, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety said: "Rogue traders are warned that if they operate in Warwickshire, our Trading Standards Service will take action against them to protect residents."

More information about the work of Warwickshire Trading Standards can be found online: https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/tradingstandards