A rogue roofing boss who pressured customers into paying thousands of pounds for incomplete and poor work has been given a suspended jail term.

Leonard Doe, based in Richmond Upon Thames, London, was contacted by three victims from Okehampton, Tiverton and Plymouth who had searched online for roofing contractors.

Doe, 44, visited their properties and provided verbal or written quotes, although he claimed he could not read or write.

After customers paid deposits and some roof slates were removed, customers were told the job was bigger than expected and a whole new roof was needed. The price of the work was then increased significantly.

Exeter Crown Court was told any work done was of a very poor standard, customers who rejected the higher quoted price were charged extra to restore their roofs and the company's five-year guarantee was not honoured.

The three victims paid Doe's company £20,105 for work that was poor or not carried out – and the consumers could not get any response when contacting Doe.

Doe pleaded guilty to charges including misleading customers about the work needed, aggressive commercial practices, charging for work which was meant to be under guarantee and failing to use reasonable care and skill in roof repairs during 2024.

Doe was jailed for 21 months, suspended for two years, and ordered to carry out 150 hours unpaid work and pay £9,000 compensation to the three victims.

The judge also imposed a four-year Criminal Behaviour Order which bans Doe from cold calling residents and acting as a company director.

Doe was the sole director of LD and Sons Roofing Ltd and he has 15 convictions for 23 offences, but nothing of a similar nature.

A probation report concluded that Doe, with27 years experience in the building trade, had 'deliberately tried to hoodwink customers'.

The judge, Recorder Richard Onslow, asked where the £20,000 had gone and the court heard it had been spent on 'living and drinking'.