Dishonest Pembrokeshire Builder Fleeced Vulnerable Householder

A cowboy builder fleeced a vulnerable householder by charging him for roof work that was never carried out.

Peter Billydean Price, 25, of Broadmoor Nurseries, Kilgetty, Pembrokeshire, admitted two offences of fraud when he appeared at Aberystwyth Magistrates' Court on Thursday, 20th July 2023.

Fraud is an offence under section 1 of the Fraud Act 2006. It has a maximum penalty of 12 months' custody on summary conviction; 10 years' custody on conviction on indictment. The specific mode of fraud in this case has not been reported, but it appears to be a case of fraud by false representation.

Magistrates heard that Price, trading as Priced to Improve Property and Landscaping Services, responded to an advert posted by the householder seeking a builder to complete roof work at his Ceredigion property.

A price of £4,600 was agreed for Price to replace all of the ridge tiles at the property. However, when Price attended the property with two associates in January 2022 he actually repainted the existing ridge tiles orange to make it appear they had been replaced.

CCTV footage from the property saw the three men turn up with painting equipment and take less than three-and-a-half hours to bodge the job. Price ignored the householder's repeated attempts to make contact once he realised the poor standard of the work done.

Ceredigion County Council trading standards brought the prosecution. The Council employed a Chartered Quantity Surveyor to inspect the roof, who concluded that the shoddy work had been carried out by a roofer who was not competent, professional or reputable.

For his part, Price later acknowledged that the price was excessive and the work completed to a poor standard.

Magistrates were of the view that his offences were serious enough to merit a community order.

Price was handed a 12-month community order with the requirement that he completes 150 hours of unpaid work and up to 20 days' rehabilitation activity.

He was also ordered to pay £4,081 compensation, £95 surcharge and £1,000 towards prosecution costs.

Councillor Matthew Vaux, of Ceredigion County Council, said: "At a time when a lot of households are struggling financially, this case shows the valuable work undertaken by the Council's Public Protection Service to protect individuals in our community against rogue traders, and in turn, bringing justice for those affected by these heartless criminals."