Morecambe rogue trader Daniel Ward jailed for two years after leaving woman struggling to pay gas and heating bills

Two Morecambe neighbours were tricked into handing over their precious life savings by a notorious roofer with a history of causing misery for homeowners, a court has heard.
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Conman Daniel William Austin Ward, 33, from Morecambe, overcharged two older women thousands of pounds for roofing work that was shoddy and never actually completed.

Between August 18 and September 28 in 2018, the father-of-one lied about the extent of work needing to be carried out at two properties on Windsor Avenue, Morecambe,

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One woman in her late 60s was tricked into having work done when he approached her outside her home, telling her he 'recognised her from church' and that he had noticed cracked tiles on her roof.

Sessions HouseSessions House
Sessions House

Ward, who has 27 convictions for 64 offences, handed her a ‘bogus’ business card bearing the logo of the Federation of Roofers, which he has never been a member of.

Preston's Sessions House Court heard by the end of his scam the victim had handed over all of her savings, including cash set aside for bills and her grandchildren.

Ward made £10,710 for himself.

But a surveyor later valued his shoddy workmanship at £4,000, meaning he overcharged her by more than £6,000.

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At around the same time, a 67-year-old neighbour had noticed a leak in her roof and approached Ward after seeing him at the other lady's home.

He quoted her £800 to undertake repairs, asking for a £300 deposit.

He later informed her the whole roof needed repairing at a cost of £3,800, and repeatedly turned up asking for money for bills and wages.

By the end the victim had handed over £3,400 but despite promises that work would be completed, or some money would be refunded, nothing more was done.

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An assessor found his workmen had damaged two Velux windows which cost £400 to replace, and deemed the value of the poor workmanship at no more than £300 - an overcharge of £3,100.

Ward admits two counts of fraud by false representation and possessing an article for use in the course of a fraud.

Ward's defence lawyer said he was ashamed of his action, and told the court his pre sentence report said: " The defendant was in a level of depression and panic to keep his business going and pay his employees, and addiction, and was not thinking clearly."

She added:" The defendant wishes to pay back both complainants but clearly his finances are on the lower scale at the moment."

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Sentencing him, Judge Simon Newell remarked the work was done "badly, inadequately and was grossly overcharged" and his action has had severe consequences for both ladies.

Referring to the first victim he added: "She has to cut back on gas and electricity and is often cold in winter months

"Not only have they got the practical effects to deal with but the psychological effect - they have no money for a rainy day or their dependants and that really causes them problems."

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