A conman from Wrotham intimidated four people into paying a total of £27,500 for work on their driveways which was estimated at being worth just £271.

Owen Francis Saunders, of London Road, trading as Berkeley Driveways, admitted six offences under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations in a prosecution brought by KCC Trading Standards at Canterbury Crown Court.

Three offences were for misleading customers and the other three for using aggressive sales tactics.

Trading Standards manager Mark Rolfe said: “This was one of the worst cases my colleagues and I have come across. He preyed on vulnerable people without a thought for anything except lining his own pockets.

“His used aggressive tactics to get work, and then rode roughshod over customers' rights by starting work before the agreed start date, restricting customers' rights to cancel, increasing charges partway through a contract and providing poor workmanship which would deteriorate far too quickly.”

The victims, all from the Whitstable area, were:

• A 71-year-old, disabled woman living alone. At one point Saunders’ workers pushed over her existing garden wall leaving her no choice but to have the work done at a cost which rose to more than £10,000;
• A 50-year-old neighbour who agreed to a new drive on the proviso that work did not start straight away. Nevertheless the men started the same day and the work was poor.
• A 70-year-old woman who again had not given them permission to start. She gave them their marching orders.
• A 55-year-old man who ended up with a £10,000 bill for driveway work that was assessed to be totally worthless.

Mr Rolfe said: “Saunders had received previous advice and a written warning from Trading Standards, which he ignored.”

When interviewed about the offences, Saunders refused to comment.

The case has been adjourned for sentencing.