A father and son from Seend, Wiltshire, have been sentenced following a roofing scam that left numerous customers in Bristol and South Gloucestershire thousands of pounds out of pocket. Arthur Dolan Sr, 49, and Arthur Dolan Jr, 28, misled homeowners about necessary building work, which they executed so poorly that it required immediate redoing.
The pair operated under the business name A & D Home Improvements Ltd and were convicted at Swindon Magistrates’ Court after admitting to several offences related to dishonest and low-quality roofing work. Wiltshire Trading Standards pursued the case using cross-boundary enforcement powers due to ongoing concerns about their activities extending beyond Wiltshire.
One victim was persuaded that their roof extension needed a complete replacement when, in reality, a simple cavity tray repair would have sufficed. The initial quote of £3,000 quickly ballooned to £12,000. An expert assessment confirmed that the purported work was unnecessary and riddled with defects. Furthermore, debris was left on the roof despite claims of thorough waste removal.
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At a second property, the Dolans charged £12,450 for a full reroof. However, an independent surveyor found the work so shoddily done that the entire roof needed to be redone. The homeowner ended up spending £17,000 on repairs and compensation for the damage caused, piling up costs due to the Dolans' negligence.
Both men have prior convictions related to consumer protection offences, including previous prosecutions by Wiltshire Trading Standards in 2025. Alarmingly, some offences were committed while Dolan Jr was on bail awaiting sentencing.
Wiltshire Council is now initiating proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 to recover financial gains from the offences and secure compensation for the victims.
On March 27, at Swindon Magistrates’ Court, Arthur Dolan Sr and Jr were handed six-month prison sentences, suspended for 15 months. Dolan Jr must complete 25 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR) days, and Dolan Sr must complete 20 days. Both are required to undertake 200 hours of unpaid work and are banned from acting as company directors for five years.
Cllr Paul Sample, Cabinet Member for Public Protection, stated: “This case highlights the serious and lasting damage caused by rogue traders. Their misleading and substandard work has caused significant financial and emotional distress to the families involved.”