Rogue tradesman Jailed for two and a half years

Rogue tradesman Walter Kaziah Lee from Blackpool preyed on the elderly across Scarborough and the North East conning them out of over £40,000

The daughter of one elderly victim said ‘that the stress and upset he has caused has been profound’.

Walter Kaziah Lee, aged 46, has been banned from “cold calling” homes anywhere in the UK for the next decade and now faces further legal action that could see him stripped of assets to repay money taken.

Lee, of Jubilee Lane, Blackpool, pleaded guilty to four offences of fraud and two under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 and was sent to prison as a result.

Lee’s offending took place between September 2018 and July 2019, netting him a total of £39,880 from victims.

All who fell prey to Lee had work done at their properties, including roofing, power washing and other repairs but much was found to be of poor quality, substantially overcharged or not done despite those involved paying Lee’s bills.

Among his victims were a 79-year-old widow from Filey who was taken to the Post Office by Lee to withdraw cash. She paid £4,000 and although he offered to repay half after her son intervened, he only returned £900. Another £2,000 is now also required to put right the work Lee did on her home.

A surveyor later concluded the repairs should have cost only £3,750 but the quality of Lee’s work meant his efforts were only worth £1,710. At the time, she was a carer for her 75-year-old husband who had Alzheimer’s and has since died.

A Robin Hood’s Bay a 73-year-old, who is now in a care home with dementia, was given two invoices for £3,000 and £6,000 but a surveyor could find no evidence of work being done to justify the second charge at all.

Lee also targeted a 78-year-old widow from Scalby, whose daughters were trying to assist her in maintaining her home following their father’s death. Despite the roof being replaced in 2016, Lee claimed moss was causing the structure to sag and needed work costing £14,000.

He also claimed work to the drive was needed, giving a total charge of £18,600. A surveyor appointed by Trading Standards valued the work at £4,710.

Lee was sentenced at York Crown Court where the judge set out a timetable for confiscation proceedings and imposed a ten year order, barring him from cold calling addresses in the UK or getting others to do so for him.

In a victim personal statement one of the daughters of the 78-year-old widow told the court: “As a result of this I feel I have no choice but to force my mum to live closer to me. This is a very difficult and upsetting decision, as she has lived in that house for 40 years.

Her sister added: “Emotionally it has been very challenging for our mum, my sister, and myself. We have been traumatised by the experience and it has increased our mistrust of tradespeople.

“I hope Walter has time in prison to reflect on his conduct and repent. These people believed in him and he took their money and let them down, and caused great stress and anxiety along the way.”

Another victim said: “I feel violated and very vulnerable at the minute. I’m so disappointed and embarrassed about it all. Hindsight is a great thing. I took in good faith what this trader was telling me. I’ve learnt a lesson