Rogue trader cheated vulnerable pensioner

A rogue handyman who conned a vulnerable 81-year-old Milford Haven woman out of hundreds of pounds has been ordered to repay her the money.

Frederick John Jones took the pensioner to a cash point himself so she could withdraw the money.

Jones of 2 Powell Close, Pembroke, was also fined £600 by Haverfordwest magistrates on Monday in a case brought by the Trading Standards team from Pembrokeshire County Council’s Public Protection Division.

He pleaded guilty to three offences under Consumer regulations.

The court heard that Jones cold-called the pensioner in her home on 9th October last year.

She asked if he could repair her wooden garden gate and he agreed to replace two frame posts for £400. She queried the price but he said he could not do it for less.

Jones asked her for money up-front to buy materials and took her to a cash point machine as she did not have sufficient monies in the house.

On their return to her home, she gave him the money and a short time later he suggested counting it out in front of her. The £300 that had been withdrawn was now, he claimed, £40 short.

Jones started the work and returned three days later to complete it. He even painted the gate even though he had not been asked to do so.

When he finished he asked for a further £220 and again took the woman to a cash point to withdraw the money. However he gave her £20 back, saying he felt sorry for her.

Magistrates were told that the pensioner was unhappy with the amount charged and the quality of the work. Furthermore Jones did not give her any paperwork and refused to give his name or contact details, telling the woman she did not need them.

Before leaving, Jones told her there was a problem with her guttering.

Even though she told him she could not give him any more money, he told her he would return the next day and do the work for £300.

He also said he would trim some branches from her neighbour’s trees that were overhanging her garden although she did not want this done.

Police were contacted by concerned staff at a local store when the woman queried the alleged shortfall in her earlier cash withdrawal. Officers from Milford Haven police station visited the woman and asked her to phone them if Jones returned.

Jones returned to the woman’s home on 13th October and he was subsequently arrested by police having started work on the guttering.

In an interview with police and officers from the Council’s Trading Standards, Jones admitted receiving £600 from the woman and claimed it was for a number of jobs.

He admitted not giving any paperwork and that he did not understand the requirements to give a cancellation notice even though his advertising flyer stated the right to a 14-day cooling-off period. The pensioner was not given a flyer.

Magistrates were told that the pensioner felt she had “been had.” The incident had left her afraid and she described the work as “a mess”.

She described Jones as “looking for jobs” and “wanting money all the time”. She said the incident had left her feeling anxious and she had difficulty sleeping.

As well as the fine, magistrates agreed to issue a compensation order requiring Jones to pay the pensioner £600.

The County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environmental and Regulatory Services, Huw George, said afterwards: “This has been an excellent result and the case demonstrates the joint collaboration between Pembrokeshire Trading Standards and Dyfed-Powys Police in dealing with this type of complaint.”