Roofer fined after ripping off customers

A roofer has been fined after he took money from customers for work he never carried out.

Donovan Morley-Clough, 34, traded as DNIJ Home Improvements in North Yorkshire and took deposits from customers before "ghosting" them.

York Magistrates' Court heard a resident in East Ayton had complained to Trading Standards when she paid Morley-Clough £1,000 for repointing and ridge tile work.

Despite telling her the work would begin a week later, he failed to turn up and blocked her on Facebook when she asked for a refund.

The investigation found a second customer in Holme on Spalding Moor, East Yorkshire, who paid the roofer £1,100 as a deposit for materials for soffit and guttering work.

Morley-Clough, formerly of North Marine Drive in Scarborough, failed to do the work or supply materials.

He initially ignored the customer's requests for a refund, until he eventually repaid her £550 in monthly instalments after she contacted his girlfriend.

On Friday, the magistrates were told Morley-Clough was now unemployed and receiving Universal Credit.

They ordered him to pay compensation of £1,000 and £550 respectively, as well as a fine and costs totalling £950.

North Yorkshire Council's executive member for trading standards, Greg White, said: "Morley-Clough's actions caused a great deal of worry to these householders.

"He left them out of pocket and having to set additional money aside for reputable tradesmen to do the work he had been paid to do."

He added it had been "completely unacceptable" for a trader to act in this way and welcomed the full compensation order.

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