Rogue trader ordered to repay elderly woman £10,000 for unsafe roof work

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 17 Oct, 10:02 · Archive

A Hertfordshire rogue trader was ordered to repay an 83-year-old woman £10,000 after leaving her roof unsafe and at risk of collapse.

Peter Howarth, 28, of no fixed address, was given an 18-month prison sentence suspended for 12 months at Luton Crown Court on Friday 16 October. He admitted fraudulent trading, unfair commercial practices and money laundering.

Howarth was ordered to pay the 83-year-old Hemel Hempstead woman £10,000 in compensation. He has been banned from being a company director for six years, and a Criminal Behaviour Order will remain in place for five years to protect residents from his business practices. His company, Marleyroofingandbuilding Ltd, was fined £250.

The woman contacted Howarth in September 2024 after receiving a flyer, agreeing to pay £6,000 to repair her garage roof. Work started within days but he provided no written contract and later claimed more repairs were needed, raising the price to £10,000. The woman paid by cheque and Howarth deposited the money into his personal bank account.

An independent roofing surveyor instructed by Hertfordshire County Council Trading Standards examined the flat roof, used as a garden terrace, and found the work was of very poor standard. The rotten structural beams had not been replaced, leaving the roof unsafe and at risk of collapse.

How it is being reported

• Rogue trader must repay victim after unsafe work left roof at risk of collapseA Hertfordshire rogue trader must repay an elderly victim after leaving her roof in a dangerous condition and at risk of collapse.Herts Advertiser · 17 Oct, 09:13
• Rogue trader must repay victim after unsafe work left roof at risk of collapseA Hertfordshire rogue trader must repay an elderly victim after leaving her roof in a dangerous condition and at risk of collapse.The Comet · 17 Oct, 09:13

In this story: Peter Howarth · Hertfordshire County Council Trading Standards · Luton Crown Court · Hemel Hempstead · Marleyroofingandbuilding Ltd

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem