Shropshire Council has successfully prosecuted a rogue trader following an investigation by the trading standards team.

Stephen Reginald Arthur Wright, of St Martins, was jailed for 27 months on July 31 after he had previously pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to offences under the Fraud Act 2006 and the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 connected with the laying of a tarmac driveway and repairs to a garage roof in West Felton, among other works.

The court heard that a common, aggravating feature of Wright’s crimes was that all of his victims had been identified by him as being vulnerable.

A couple from West Felton were pestered by him until eventually in July 2017 they agreed to have their driveway replaced for £4,000, on the condition they would not have to pay anything until the work was completed.

However, Wright made demands for payments for equipment hire and materials, putting them in a situation where they felt compelled to pay or face having no driveway, paying £7,300 overall to Wright for work that was later deemed to be without any value.

A second vulnerable couple from Montford Bridge were targeted on Mothering Sunday 2018.

What started out as a small job to replace 25 roof tiles quickly escalated, with tiles and fascia boards being replaced at a cost of £8,700. A surveyor later examined the work and valued it as being worth only £850 plus VAT.

Wright committed offences at this address with the full knowledge that he was being investigated by Shropshire Council’s trading standards team for the earlier incident in West Felton.

Frances Darling, Shropshire Council’s trading standards and licensing operations manager, said: “Rogue traders targeting elderly and vulnerable people are a blight on our communities, bringing financial detriment and hardship to individuals and adversely impacting their mental health. It is extremely pleasing to see the court has clearly recognised the seriousness of the crimes committed by Wright against vulnerable members of our community.

"I very much hope that the sentence that has been handed down will deter others from undertaking such illegal activities in the future.

“Trading standards take incidents of rogue trading extremely seriously and we will investigate and use the full weight of the law to bring to justice traders found defrauding consumers.”

“I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all the witnesses who helped officers bring this case to court; they have remained both patient and supportive throughout the investigation, and deserve full recognition for the very important role they have played.”

Gwilym Butler, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for communities, place planning and regulatory services, added: “One of the council’s key priorities is to ensure care for those in need at any age. Such care is delivered in many different ways, not only through the direct care provided by adult social care services, but also by taking a much broader approach.

"This case is a very clear example of the way in which a very small team punches above its weight to ensure those in need are cared for by tackling appallingly fraudulent trading behaviour."

Consumers with concerns about any product or service where they feel they have been misled or defrauded in any way should contact the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 03454 04 05 06.