ROGUE builders being investigated for 'bodge' roof repairs remained listed on an online trade directory after they were sentenced. 

Dean Smith and his brothers Matty and James Rossiter were jailed on April 13 after admitting fraud offences. 

In total, the trio defrauded customers aged 44 to 90 out of around £45,000 for work on 18 properties across Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Bristol.

But, despite all of this, the BBC has reported that customers were able to find them through Checkatrade even after legal proceedings were brought against them in 2022.

Checkatrade removed the firm after they were contacted by the BBC on Tuesday.

In response, Checkatrade told the BBC that it had "zero tolerance for any tradespeople who fail to meet our high standards" and that over the past 12 months, it had received more than 600,000 reviews and removed more than 1,000 members.

It added that traders must pass up to 12 checks before they can join Checkatrade, and had to commit to upholding standards throughout their membership.

Swindon Advertiser:

Smith 21, and the Rossiter brothers had different company names for different areas in the country, with one - Enterprise Roofing - still on Checkatrade. 

Other names they worked under included Southern Homecare, Chippenham Roofing, Skyline Roofing, Wiltshire Roofing and Yate Roofing.

Matty Rossiter, 18, of Minety in Wiltshire, was sentenced to two years and three months in prison. James Rossiter, 25, also of Minety, was sentenced to three years and four months in prison. Smith, of Aldermaston in Berkshire, was jailed for three years.

After their sentencing, a shocking video of the three men mocking one of their elderly victims by boasting about overcharging them and not doing the job properly while carrying out a shoddy roof repair was also released. 

That victim was 82-year-old John Bray, from Calne, who was charged £8,000 to replace some tiles and his son, Steve, has recently opened up about how the behaviour affected his parents.

He said: “They made a video laughing and joking, insulting my dad, laughing and joking while they were doing more damage.

"The feelings my parents had - the shame and embarrassment - my mum took that feeling to her grave. That's the worst part."

During the video one builder filmed the work and said: “As you can see we are doing some roofing work here. We’re doing some bodging.”

Filming Mr Bray, he added: “As you can see the guy who we’re working for, he’s really old."