A roofer who preyed on vulnerable customers before ripping them off has been jailed.

Terry Green gained his victims’ trust by quoting reasonable prices for jobs.

But the 27-year-old would then tell them further and more expensive work was required.

Kent Police became aware of Green's offending in April 2022.

A resident of Westgate, Thanet, paid him £1,650 for repairs that were then not completed.

The victim told officers she had agreed to the work after originally being quoted £45 to replace a roof tile.

She then transferred the larger sum as a deposit for further repairs.

However, Green left the property after being informed she wanted a second opinion.

Two months later, Green revisited the home of an elderly couple in Sandwich who he had previously carried out work for.

He asked them if they needed their damaged chimney repairing.

After quoting the pair £350, he later told them their entire roof needed fixing at a cost of £20,000.

Despite a price of about £7,000 being agreed, the couple ended up paying a total of £3,090 after their bank grew suspicious and stopped any further transactions.

Green, of Mansion Lane in Iver, Buckinghamshire, was arrested in Minster, Thanet, on June 13, 2022.

He was later charged with two counts of fraud.

After pleading guilty to both offences, he was jailed for six years at Maidstone Crown Court last Wednesday (May 1).

A further nine offences were also ordered to lie on file.

DS Adam Stallard, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: "Terry Green could have earned an honest living as a roofer, but made a conscious decision to cheat his customers out of their hard-earned money.

"Such criminals cause great financial hardship to those they trick into paying over the odds for substandard work, as well as a loss of confidence in the many honest tradespeople who work hard every day.

"Green cold-called at his victims’ homes to tell them their property was in need of repair.

"I would strongly advise anyone who receives a similar knock at their door to carefully consider their options before agreeing to any work, and to always seek a second opinion first."