THE ACTIONS of an Oswestry rogue trader were described as “despicable” after two couples were pressurised into paying for shoddy work on their homes.

Stephen Reginald Wright had also falsely claimed that his child had died and had been buried at a nearby church in order to ensnare one of the victims.

At Shrewsbury Crown Court this week Wright was jailed for a total of 27 months for offences of fraud and dishonesty.

Passing sentence Judge Jonathan Gosling told Wright his behaviour had been despicable and rejected his claim it was his father's fault.

“You emphasised that this was all your father’s fault which is completely at odds with the evidence in this case,” he said.

Wright, 32, of Cherry Tree Drive, St Martins, near Oswestry, who had obtained more than £16,000, had admitted two charges of fraud and six offences of dishonesty in 2017 and 2018.

The prosecution was brought by Shropshire Council's trading standards unit and related to work done at properties in The Avenue, West Felton, Oswestry, and at Montford Bridge.

Mr Kevin Saunders, prosecuting for the authority, said Wright called at the victims' homes offering to repair the driveway, garage and roofs.

He said it was agreed he would be paid when all the work was done, but instead of waiting he almost immediately demanded several thousands of pounds at a time.

Mr Saunders said the mischief related to the importance of providing written cancellation notices.

"It affords people the opportunity to change their mind, removes them from the situation if they feel pressured," he said “If under duress they are afforded the time for cooling off. Had cancellation notices been provided it may have allowed them to hold on to their money,” he added.

Mr Saunders said that the victims, among them an Alzheimer’s patient and a woman with mobility issues, paid Wright a total of £16,200 for work that was later found to be substandard and inadequate.

He said that despite the defendant being warned at a previous court hearing to repay the monies “not a bean” had been forthcoming.

The court heard Wright's attempts to pressure a third customer into paying upfront for work failed when that the person became suspicious.

Mr Richard Orme, for Wright, said his client maintained he had acted on the instructions of his “domineering” father.

No application was made under the Proceeds of Crime Act as the court was told that Wright had no money and no realisable assets.