A Long Compton gardener has been sentenced at Warwick Crown Court after an investigation found he defrauded customers of more than £39,000 by taking money up front and failing to complete agreed work.
What investigators found
The trader, who has not been named by Warwickshire Police, was charged with 13 counts of fraud by false representation. The offences relate to work carried out from 2019 and involved residents—mostly from the Banbury area—who employed him for jobs ranging from routine gardening to building walls and creating ponds and an outdoor model railway.
Prosecutors say the gardener commonly requested substantial payments in advance. In many cases he completed only a small amount of work before stopping contact and offering excuses for the delay. On other occasions customers were pressured to transfer money quickly for discounted materials or garden sheds that were said to be available through special supplier deals; those goods were not delivered.
- Period of offending: from 2019
- Number of counts: 13
- Amount taken from customers: more than £39,000
- Area affected: largely Banbury and surrounding parts of Warwickshire
Sentence and orders
On Wednesday 15 July the defendant was sentenced to 36 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 30 months. Additional orders include 200 hours of unpaid work and 20 days of rehabilitation activity.
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Convictions | 13 counts of fraud by false representation |
| Sentence | 36 months (suspended for 30 months) |
| Other orders | 200 hours unpaid work; 20 days rehabilitation activity |
| Reported loss | More than £39,000 |
"Rogue traders like this cause significant distress to their customers,"
The quote above is from Detective Constable Alison Roberts, who led an extensive police inquiry. Officers say victims were initially given a variety of explanations for unfinished work and withheld refunds, including vehicle breakdowns, bad weather and alleged accidental injuries.
Practical impact and advice for residents
Cases of this kind have a wider effect beyond the individuals directly involved. Local businesses and honest tradespeople can suffer reputational damage when rogue traders operate in an area. Residents who engage contractors are advised to take straightforward precautions:
- Ask for and check references, and view recent completed work where possible.
- Never pay large sums up front without a written contract specifying work and refund terms.
- Use traceable payment methods—avoid cash where possible.
- Get at least two or three written quotes for work and allow time to verify suppliers and materials deals.
- Report suspicions to Warwickshire Police and seek advice from Citizens Advice or Trading Standards.
Detective Constable Roberts urged anyone who believes they may have been targeted by similar behaviour to contact police and to preserve any receipts, messages or bank transfer details that could assist an investigation.
The outcome at Warwick Crown Court provides a formal response to the complaints made by residents, while the suspended nature of the custodial term means the defendant will avoid immediate imprisonment provided the court‑set conditions are met during the operational period.
Local authorities and consumer protection bodies continue to work with police to identify and disrupt rogue trading activity across Warwickshire.
