A ROGUE roofer conned an elderly Halesowen cancer sufferer and his wife into paying him £2,400 for work that was "rubbish" and never completed, a court heard.

The couple were told by Jason Charles that two of their chimneys were in a dangerous condition and in urgent need of re-pointing when he made a cold call at their Blackberry Lane home.

Maurice Rudge, aged 79, who had also just had a stroke, and his wife, Janet, were quoted £1,400 for the repair work with a further £1,000 for scaffolding.

Mark Jackson, told Wolverhampton Crown Court, the couple were not provided with their cancellation rights or a seven day cooling off period, neither was the price “reasonable” and scaffolding would have been £670.

He said Charles' firm PRS Roofing, which he ran with his brother Dean Powers, aged 46, did a "rubbish" job, adding: "The standard of work was poor and it was not finished."

Charles, aged 42 of Rainscar, Tamworth, denied five charges of fraud but was convicted by a jury.

He and his brother, of the same address, were also found guilty of participating in a fraudulent business and engaging in a commercial practice which contravened the requirements of professional diligence in relation to another Halesowen customer.

Recorder Anthony Potter warned them to expect to be jailed and remanded them in custody for pre-sentence reports.