A ROGUE trader who charged an elderly resident more than £40,000 for laying a patch of artificial grass has been jailed for nearly three years.
Michael Gorman was investigated by Reading Borough Council’s Trading Standards team after he originally gave a quote of £2,300 for work laying around nine square metres of artificial grass, but persuaded the resident to write a cheque for £42,000.
The actual value of the work was just over £1,880.
They discovered that the resident first hired Mr Gorman to remove some trees in November 2021, when he was trading under the name MG Garden and Tree Services.
The resident responded to a classified advert in a magazine, but no prior discussion had provided a quote for a price.
After the trees were removed, along with a wire fence, the resident was charged £900 but not given a receipt or invoice.
Mr Gorman continued to carry out work on the resident’s property and made several phone calls to the resident up until April 2022, including installation of a new fence for £1,400 and the removal and installation of concrete paving for £12,500.
Mr Gorman spent six months gradually inflating the cost of works carried out in the 90-year-old’s home before suspicions were raised by a cheque.
The resident had written a cheque for £42,000, but was unable to honour it due to insufficient funds.
The resident was then pressured to write another cheque for a lesser amount, £38,000, to pay in part.
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When the second cheque was presented to the Reading branch of Lloyds Bank, staff became suspicious, contacting the police, and a council Trading Standards investigation was launched.
Mr Gorman was sentenced to 32 months in prison at a hearing on Friday, June 14, after admitting in January to three counts of fraud.
Judge Heather Norton said that Mr Gorman had taken advantage of a “vulnerable” man who had no family to help him maintain his home.
The resident died a few weeks before Christmas last year.
Rob Abell, Consumer Protection Group manager, said: “This result is thanks to the swift and decisive action taken by our Trading Standards team, whose meticulous investigation spanning many months has today ensured another unscrupulous rogue trader cannot continue to harm our vulnerable residents.
“Unfortunately, the victim has since very sadly passed away, I’m glad we still achieved justice in court.
“Fraudsters will target anyone, and it can be very difficult to tell a good trader from a bad one. Homeowners can find a Trading Standards-approved trader through the national ‘Buy With Confidence’ scheme at www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk.
“If you have any concerns about a tradesman, or cost of work or a family member, please contact consumer.protection@reading.gov.uk or call the national consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133.”
