A rogue trader who duped unsuspecting customers in Bracknell and Wokingham into thinking they needed urgent building work in their homes was today starting an 18 month prison sentence for his shoddy work.

John Cooper admitted a string of aggressive trade breaches after he approached potential clients and tricked them into thinking their homes were in need of urgent repairs.

A judge heard how Cooper would offer unnecessary work to peoples’ homes at an extortionate rate and carry out botched repairs.

The 44-year-old, who targeted more than 10 homes in Bracknell, Woodley and Wokingham, was jailed for 18 months.

The judge sitting at Reading Crown Court heard that Cooper was caught out when Trading Standards officials were tipped off about his rogue business.

A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said: “Cooper was charged which the offences on 12th July 2016 which took place in Woodley, Wokingham and Bracknell. The offences occurred between December 2015 and February 2016.

“Cooper targeted his victims by offering building work which was often unnecessary, poorly completed and overpriced.”

Cooper, aged 44 years and of Carina Drive, Wokingham, admitted 11 counts of of being a trader engaged in commercial practice which was aggressive and sentenced to jail.

Sean Murphy, Trading Standards manager at West Berkshire and Wokingham Trading Standards Service, said: “This is the latest in a series of examples of colleagues from Thames Valley Police and Trading Standards working together to tackle the scourge of rogue trading.

“This was a good example of joint agency working and will hopefully send a strong message to doorstep traders and tradesmen that this type of aggressive cold calling and targeting vulnerable residents is totally unacceptable.

“Crimes of this nature can have a high impact on victims’ lives and for this reason investigating these crimes remains a priority to us. We would urge people where they have concerns to contact trading standards or the police.”