Rogue roofers fleece couple of £73,000 savings
A GANG of con artists have fleeced a pensioner couple out of £73,000 life savings and left them without a roof.
Malcolm Bishop was left suicidal after the three-man gang of rogue builders used the headed paper and business cards of a genuine company to swindle him and wife Jill.
One knocked on the door of their bungalow offering to replace cracked tiles for £1,000.
He then claimed to have revealed rotting timbers and he needed more money.
Yesterday, Mr Bishop, of Strood, Kent, said: “From then on it just snowballed.
“He said I would have to hire a generator because they needed to turn the electricity off.And he said he might have to contact the council because the property might need condemning and we might have to find somewhere else to live. I just panicked.”
After five transactions, including from his wife’s account, he tracked down the genuine local company Premier Roofcare.
Boss Lee Austin said: “I was horrified… this poor man was in tears.”
Mr Austin visited and put up makeshift sheeting with the help of firefighters.
He said: “The roof was completely open at the front and the side, exposing the loft.
“They had given him false telephone numbers saying not to call our main office where I am based.” Mr Austin has called around his suppliers and has pledged to carry out the work.
He has set up a GoFundMe website page to help find half of the cost to rectify the damage caused over two weeks, estimated to be about £12,000.
Almost £2,000 was raised in less than 24 hours and neighbours of the couple have also rallied round.
But without their nest egg for retirement, Mr Bishop said they might even struggle to do a food shop.
Last night, a Kent police spokesman said: “The victim is reported to have been approached by a cold caller in mid-January.
“Anyone who believes they have information that can assist is asked to call Kent police.”