Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

A lesson to be learnt by us all...

Semington resident Patrick Ward deceived an 83-year-old woman when he inflated his price while carrying out substandard work on her drive.

Ward, who lives on Greenacre Mobile Park, admitted two offences under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 at Salisbury Magistrates’ Court.

He called at the Trowbridge home of Marjorie Ellery, 83, on March 9, 2013, and offered to replace a driveway for a price of £475.

Ten days later, he returned with three other men and, before starting any work, produced an invoice for £1,400.

As the work progressed, Mrs Ellery was asked for £500 to buy concrete and Ward accompanied her to the bank to withdraw the cash.

When the work was done, Mrs Ellery was asked for the remaining £1,000, plus £100 for a drain installation, bringing the total to more than three times the amount she had first agreed to pay.

Ward was fined £150 for the offence of misleading a consumer about the price of work.

The work contravened the requirements of professional diligence, and Ward was fined a further £50.

He was ordered to give Mrs Ellery £4,428, pay a £20 victim surcharge and £1,915 in costs to Wiltshire Council, making a total of £6,563.

Some, including me, would say that he should have been sent to prison as well as having to pay costs and compensation...

Acknowledgement to thisiswiltshire.co.uk which has the full story.