A ROGUE trader from Charvil has been given a 12-month community order and made to pay compensation after being convicted of fraud charges.

Kane Wootten, 23, of Wenlock Edge, was convicted of two charges of fraud and three charges under consumer protection law at Reading Magistrates' on July 26.

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His sentencing is the result of an investigation by officers from the Public Protection Partnership (PPP) Trading Standards Team and prosecution by the PPP Joint Case Management Unit.

The investigation started after three Wokingham Borough residents and one in Reading Borough placed posts on Facebook between April and July last year, asking for landscaping work in their gardens such as laying paving or artificial grass, and installing decking or fencing.

Wootten answered these posts, offered to do the work, and accepted payments for deposits or for materials, sometimes amounting to more than 50 per cent of the value he had quoted to do the work in full.

However, no work was done in three of the four gardens.

In one case, Wootten asked for a second payment of £1,450 for materials in addition to already taking a £1,500 deposit.

During his interview under caution, and in accepting guilt at court, Wootten explained he had taken money from the last two victims to pay his rent and was struggling at that time with a large number of personal issues.

He pleaded guilty to the charges and was given a 12-month community order to carry out 160 hours of unpaid work, as well as having to pay £6,369 in compensation to his victims.

A spokesman from Wokingham Borough Council said: "The actions of the defendant in this case were completely unacceptable.

"People have the right to assume that when they hand over money the work they're paying for will be, or has been, carried out.

"We will always investigate matters of this nature and I would urge anyone who feels they have been the subject of unfair trading to contact the PPP service."

The PPP is a shared trading standards, environmental health and licensing service between Wokingham Borough Council, Bracknell Forest Council and West Berkshire Council.

Anyone who has concerns about a trader is asked to contact (01635) 519930 or email: tsadvice@westberks.gov.uk.