Widow harassed by workmen after her husband died, court hears

Marion Hampton, 69, and her daughter, Isabelle, claimed they were continually harassed by Summit Roofguard Ltd.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard how numerous elderly people were also targeted over the phone and by salesmen to allegedly get un-needed repairs carried on their roofs, windows and garages.

Pensioners have testified against two directors and four employees of Summit, who have all pleaded not guilty, during a four month trial.

Dudley Trading Standards has led the prosecution that has seen cases come up from across the Midlands.

Mrs Hampton lived in Halesowen with her husband but relied on support from family and a social worker when she began receiving phone calls from Summit, the court heard.

They were first approached by a saleswoman in August 2012 who claimed they urgently needed to replace their guttering.

The couple were given a quote of £6,000, which was reduced to £4,300, but told the work needed carrying out immediately because it would cause damp if left alone.

Judge Amjad Nawaz, who began summing up the case on Tuesday (JAN 5), said: "Sadly Mr Haughton passed away and Mrs Haughton says she was told the contract was cancelled.

"But in December 2012 their daughter was informed it had not been cancelled so she called trading standards.

"She continued to tell the company her mother did have the money."

The court heard how sales representative Glenys Bolton, who had approached Mr and Mrs Haughton, had claimed she had done nothing "untoward".

Judge Nawaz said: "Miss Bolton said 'if the prices were high, they were high' but they were not set by staff but by those in charge of the company."

Chartered surveyor Derek Bate later carried out a survey on behalf of trading standards and reported the house to be in a good condition with no evidence of damp.

He said the any work could have been carried out for less than £2,000.

Martin Evans, 58, from Lower Broadheath, Worcestershire, and Sarah Beadle, 39, of Yew Tree Road, Moseley – both directors of the company – deny leading an unfair, misleading or aggressive commercial practice.

General manager Josfer Prytherch, 57, of Crawley, Sussex, sales staff Richard Ledwith, 38, of West Heath, Derrick Fisher, aged 64, from Wootton Wawen, and Bolton, of New Oscott, also 64, have also pleaded not guilty to the same charges. Beadle and Evans also deny obstructing an authorised officer.

Salesman Nadeem Yasin, 34, from Hodge Hill, was told at an earlier hearing he had no case to answer.

The trial continues.