Mike Watkinson was left with a huge hole in his roof after rogue traders took £2,000 and left the job unfinishedPhoebe Jobling Property Writer and SWNSlottievonhenning (lottie vonhenning)
07:36, 04 Apr 2026
The roofer helped the pensioner after hearing he had been conned(Image: SWNS)
A roofer has told of his incredible act of kindness to a pensioner in Oldham after he fell victim to a scam weeks after losing his wife. Mike Watkinson, 78, needed tiles replacing after his wife of 57 years died following a lengthy battle with liver cancer.
The widower said he felt ‘pressured’ into accepting a £250 quote for the work, which eventually spiralled to £2,000. Mike paid the workers, who pocketed the cash and left the roof at his home in Scouthead Moor, Oldham, unfinished and with a gaping hole.
When roofer Denny Melia, 28, heard of the situation last week, he rushed over with his team and completed the work. After he was conned out of thousands of pounds, Denny repaired Mike’s roof for free.
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Denny, from Jigsaw Roofing, in Merseyside, said: “I was outraged hearing Mike’s story. I couldn’t believe people would take advantage of a man in that stage of life.
The team fixed the roof free of charge(Image: SWNS)
“He was even considering going back to work to have to pay for the roof.” Denny and his crew were appalled at the condition of Mike’s roof when they arrived.
He added: “The job was only about 25 per cent done when we got to his house. The other workers had said they’d finish it for another £1,200, but I told Mike that if they showed up again, he should call the police.
The finished roof(Image: SWNS)
“£250 would have been a fair price for what he was asking, but they just kept upping it and pressuring him, saying there were other issues.
“He was absolutely the typical target for these types of scammers.”