Dermot Quilligan, 25, has been sentenced to one year's imprisonment following a trial at St Albans Crown Court for fraudulently misrepresenting the work required to a consumer's roof in Stevenage.

Quilligan attempted to obtain £5,400 for a roofing job when the work required was valued at considerably less, the court heard at the sentencing hearing yesterday (9 June).

He was further convicted for criminal damage he caused to the roof, for failing to inform the consumer of cancellation rights and for the aggressive and coercive way in which he dealt with the consumer.

The matter concerns a roofing job at a consumer's home at Ridgeway in Stevenage in October 2019.

Originally the consumer used a website agency to find a trader to rectify her leaking guttering. She subsequently received and accepted a quote of £60 to clean the gutter from Emerald Roofing and Building.

Two men, Dermot Quilligan and Patrick O'Brien, from the firm started work, but Mr Quilligan quickly pressurised the consumer into agreeing to further work that was not required or wanted, first to the fascia boards and then to the roof itself.

The price for the whole job was rapidly "bounced" upwards from £60 to £5,400.

Mr Quilligan explained to the consumer that she needed to pay £2,000 for scaffolding that couldn't be cancelled and that the money was needed straight away. The consumer went to the building society to withdraw money to pay for this.

Due to an insightful mortgage consultant at the Nationwide Building Society, the alarm was raised and the two men were stopped in their tracks.

Trading Standards officers accompanied by Police officers, went to the property where the two men were arrested.

His Honour Judge Foster described the crime as really despicable conduct involving preying on a vulnerable lady who had suffered storm damage.

He concluded that Quilligan, who was absent from court and has an outstanding arrest warrant in his name, had responded to the lady using a false name, Marcus Turner, saw how vulnerable she was, immediately exploited the situation, quoting for work that was not necessary and pressured her in the process. The court also heard that there had been a conviction for a dishonesty offence in Victoria, Australia in 2019, leading to deportation.

The Judge recognised the public-spirited way in which the building society employee intervened and she is to receive an award from the High Sheriff.

The second defendant, O'Brien, was found to have tagged along with the scam playing a lesser role, received a two-year conditional discharge after being found guilty by the jury of unfair and aggressive commercial practices and criminal damage to the roof. He was ordered to pay £500 to the consumer.

A victim surcharge of £20 was also payable.

In mitigation, Mr O'Brien indicated that he had been mortified to have been involved and conveyed shame and regret at being part of it.

While the incident happened in October 2019 the trial could only be heard in June this year due to the backlog in the Crown Court arising from COVID mitigations.

Cllr Morris Bright MBE, Hertfordshire County Council's Executive Member for Public Health and Community Safety, said: "We will continue to take fraudsters to task over such matters and prosecute in similar situations to this. Hertfordshire Trading Standards will work with the police and other agencies to prevent these rogues from defrauding innocent and often vulnerable members of the public.

"Working in partnership with others to share evidence and intelligence is an important part of our armoury. This operation is a great example of how we can work together to stifle these bullies."

This case shows the importance of looking out for one another and alerting Police and Trading Standards for support straight away if there is a gut feeling that a trader's behaviour doesn't feel fair or right. Swift action can prevent further distress and financial loss later. Such encounters can have a devastating effect on a victim's well-being.

Consumers needing home maintenance work doing can find vetted traders at https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/goodtrader and can report problems to Trading Standards through the consumer helpline at Citizens Advice 0808 223 1133.