A former police officer took his case against a roofer who left him more than £2,000 out of pocket to court - and won.

It took two years for Tom Duffy to present his evidence before a judge against him who botched repairs at his Rainham home.

Finally, Mr Duffy had his day in court last month where Patrick Francis O’Driscoll, director of Strood-based Roofwise Contractors, was ordered to pay him back £2,200. Mr Duffy was also awarded costs and witness expenses of £140.

Mr Duffy, who when on his Chatham and Gillingham beat used to specialise in crime and fraud reduction, said he felt “physically sick” when he realised he’d been ripped off.

The 70-year-old granddad approached the company in October 2021 to waterproof the roof of a summer house because his usual workman was injured.

Mr O’Driscoll arrived the following day with what he described as his “experienced team”, a man and a young lad, and estimated the job would take two to three days.

Mr Duffy expressed his surprise when they “completed “the work on the first day and was asked for the sum of £2,200, the amount verbally agreed.

He said: “He became aggressive. I felt quite intimidated so I asked my wife to transfer the money into his account.”

While the transaction was being made, Mr O’Driscolll asked him what he did for a living before his retirement.

Mr Duffy said: “When I told him I was a police officer, you could see the colour drain from his face. He went white. I could see he was quite shocked."

His police instinct kicked in, and growing suspicious, he called a friend with 30 years of experience in the building trade to take a look.

After an inspection, he was told that only a section of the work had been completed.

He called Mr O’Driscoll asking for a £1,500 refund, but was reassured saying he would return with another roofer to correct any shortfall.

Three days later after heavy rain, the roof started leaking. Mr O’Driscoll messaged him saying the water must be seeping through the walls or window, and not the roof.

Over the next three months, Mr Duffy wrote a series of letters to Mr O’Driscoll at the company’s registered address in Elaine Avenue quoting the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

He eventually said he was carrying out his threat to take him to court and his friend was willing to submit his findings to the work carried out. He also had an independent report done by an experienced builder.

Mr O Driscoll texted him a reply saying he was seeing family in Ireland for Christmas and he had no intention of reimbursing him.

The case was finally heard in October by a district judge at Medway County Court in Chatham.

Mr O’Driscoll was ordered to pay the full amount charged and extra costs by Tuesday, October 31.

Mr Duffy, who was a police constable and retired from the force in 2007, said: “It’s not about the money, it’s the principle.

“I was determined to see this through. I would not want this to happen to anyone else.

“My advice would be to not just take the first person you approach. Get two or three quotes and get it in writing.”

Mr O’Driscoll responded to an email KentOnline sent him.

He said: “The amount has not been paid."

He added that he was going to ask the court if it would accept monthly payments of £50.