A GARDENER has been jailed after charging a 78-year-old victim £760 for an hour's work pruning a tree.

Andrew Cooper, 43, of Crock Lane, Bridport was sentenced to two years in prison at Dorchester Crown Court, having pleased guilty to an offence under the Fraud Act 2006 of misrepresenting the gardening work as being worth £760, as well as consumer protection offences.

Cooper also admitted unrelated offences of public disorder and possessing an offensive weapon. The prosecution following an investigation by Dorset County Council's trading standards service.

The court heard that in September 2015, Cooper had called uninvited at the home of a 78-year-old Dorchester man, who he had previously done work for. He told the man that he was going to prune a cherry tree, but did not discuss a price, or give him a notice of his right to cancel the contract, as required by law.

An hour after starting the job, Cooper suggested a £900 fee, but as the victim was a loyal customer he would accept a £750 payment and only in cash. The victim gave him £60 and Cooper followed the man in his van while he drove to the cash point in Dorchester where he was given a further £700. The police were alerted by a concerned neighbour and contacted the trading standards service who investigated and prosecuted the case.

Judge Jonathan Fuller said that Cooper had ignored repeated advice from the trading standards service and noted that the last advice was given only a short time before the offence. He also remarked that this was a particularly nasty offence and that Cooper had set out to target a vulnerable individual and ignore the regulations.

He gave credit for Cooper repaying £700 of the money, but said he only did this because "he knew the game was up".

Andrew Cooper was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £3,686 to the county council.

Ivan Hancock, the council’s trading standards service manager, said: “Tackling rogue traders that prey on vulnerable adults is top priority for our trading standards team and this case illustrates that the courts also take this very seriously.

"We are still keen to ensure that residents do all they can to avoid becoming a victim by saying no to uninvited doorstep traders.”