Woman receives compensation from rogue trader

An elderly woman who was bullied by a rogue trader into paying too much for building work has been issued compensation.

Joan Shaw, who is 79 years old and comes from Whitehaven on the west coast of Cumbria, will receive £1,000 following a recent court ruling, local paper the News & Star reports.

Rico Evans conducted the work on her roof and charged her £1,100, despite previously telling her that his services would cost £190.

The 18-year-old cold-called at Ms Shaw's property and tried to persuade her to have the work done, saying he would return after the weekend.

Over this period, she decided against the idea, but woke up at 07:00 GMT on Monday to hear men on her roof.

Despite repeatedly telling the workers she wanted them to leave, she was ignored.

Mr Evans subsequently drove the pensioner to her local bank to withdraw the money.

Recently, he admitted an offence under the Unfair Trading Regulations Act 2008 and was jailed for 18 months.

He has also been banned for ten years from cold-calling door-to-door for gardening or building work.
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15/05/2009 13:51

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