A WIDOW is delighted that a rogue roofer who tried to swindle her out of £13,000 has been jailed for four years.

The woman, who is crippled with severe arthritis, said Robert Hughes overcharged for work and then tried to take a further £13,000 from her.

The 78-year-old, who lives in Cedar Avenue, Malvern, no longer trusts workmen and said she will carry out the jobs on her own from now on.

Hughes, 25, who registered his company under a false address in Pershore, was sentenced to four counts of unfair trading and five counts of fraud, on Thursday, February 2.

The widow said: "I am glad he got four years. I'll send him an invoice in prison for the work he never did.

"To sum up Hughes - he has all the gear but no idea. I have learned not to have anything to do with doorstep traders.

"One came down and I said 'I've had one rogue trader down here and he's about to serve a prison term so clear off'.

"I'm thoroughly disgusted and let down. I have lost faith in all workmen."

The scam started when she saw Hughes supervising work in Pickersleigh Road, Malvern, and approached him.

"He was most pushy and determined to get the contract of installing the 17 metres of guttering, soffit and fascias on my property," she said.

"He visited my premises later that day [August 25] and gave me a written quote. He demanded £1,300 cash up front."

The victim paid £1,300 for 'low quality' guttering and roofing work, despite the work only costing Hughes hundreds of pounds, according to trading standards.

"As the work on the back of the bungalow was progressing, two large holes were discovered in the roofing felt," she said.

"Hughes quoted me £25,000 but would do the work for £13,700 and demanded that I went to the bank to transfer this amount."

The woman then tried to transfer the money but the bank refused to accept it until she had a receipted invoice.

On her way back from the bank she met a roofer in a building supplies store who told her that she was being overcharged for the job.

She then locked her doors and refused to allow Hughes in, despite his complaints.

"Time he learned an Englishman's home is his castle," she said.

The resident said she felt foolish for being tricked by a cowboy trader but said that unfortunately it can happen to anyone.

A spokesman for Herefordshire Trading Standards Service said Hughes failed to offer the victim a 14 day cooling off period when he gave her a quote for the work.

The spokesman added Hughes had quoted £13,000 for a job which involved £300 worth of felt replacement, which was unnecessary and a serious fraud attempt.

Hughes conned around £70,000 out of the victims involved in the case against him.

He was sentenced at Worcester Crown Court for rogue trading through his business R Hughes Roofing.