AN ‘IMPOSING’ roofer who used inaccurate and confusing paperwork to defraud customers has pleaded guilty at Bournemouth magistrates’ court.

Frenny Jordan, who traded as On Top Roofing and Building Ltd, admitted approaching a number of householders in the Hengistbury Head area.

Bournemouth borough council's trading standards officers found householders were not given the chance to consider whether they wanted to go ahead with repairs and were presented with substantial bills for work, some of which appeared not to have been done or which had not been part of the original agreement.

Jordan’s company was convicted under cancellation of contracts regulations relating to offences in June, August and October last year and was also convicted of two offences under the Companies (Trading Disclosures) regulations relating to an incident in September 2011.

The company was subsequently given a conditional discharge and suspended for two years.

Andy Sherriff, Bournemouth borough council's trading standards manager, said he was disappointed there was no fine or compensation order against Jordan, who lives at East Farm, Osmington, near Weymouth.

He added: “I’m pleased that Mr Jordan chose to plead guilty as it spared the elderly victims from being required to attend court.

“Mr Jordan is an imposing figure and it’s easy to see how people could feel intimidated by his approach.

“Mr Jordan accepted that he knew about his legal duty to offer cancellation rights and Dorset Trading Standards’ records show that he was advised following previous incidents.

“It seems evident that he took a chance and hoped that these vulnerable elderly people wouldn’t know what he was doing.”