ByChris Slater Senior Reporter
A father and son duo, Steven Lee Jnr and his business associate Eli Young, have been implicated in a fraudulent roofing operation that allegedly swindled homeowners in Greater Manchester out of more than £175,000. The pair reportedly “grossly overcharged” customers and performed unnecessary work, leaving roofs in an “exposed and dangerous state.”
Both men have a history of similar offenses, previously conning pensioners out of their savings. They operated under the company names Dedicated Roofing Solutions and Elite Roofing Solutions, with investigations led by Stockport Council Trading Standards and supported by Halton Borough Council Trading Standards Service and Lancashire Police.
The latest investigation revealed that three victims from Stockport alone lost significant amounts of their life savings, totaling £176,600. Lee Jnr, aged 38, pleaded guilty to eight counts of fraud by false misrepresentation, while Young, whose whereabouts are currently unknown, also pleaded guilty to fraud.
Steven Lee Snr, who shared the same address as his son, was involved in a separate fraudulent business under the name Drysky Property Maintenance but passed away in October 2023 before sentencing could occur.
This is not the first legal trouble for the Lees. In 2013, they were convicted for poor workmanship after defrauding elderly clients in Bury. One victim, a 69-year-old woman, paid over £15,000 for substandard work and later had to spend an additional £8,800 to fix the issues. Another victim, an 81-year-old man, was similarly defrauded.
The court proceedings are ongoing, with sentencing expected at Preston Crown Court next week. Authorities urge anyone affected by similar scams to come forward.