A rogue trader who preyed on a vulnerable pensioner has been jailed following prosecution by Hartlepool Borough Council's Trading Standards Team.
John Paul Maughan, 50, formerly of East Howel Caravan Site in Ferryhill, County Durham, was found guilty of seven offences at Teesside Magistrates' Court. He was sentenced to 36 weeks in jail and ordered to pay £2,500 compensation and £2,759 in costs.
How the fraud unfolded
Maughan targeted the pensioner after she sought help with gutter repairs through an online trader marketplace. He quoted £850 for the work but failed to provide the legally required 14-day cooling-off period notice.
The price then rose to £1,500 when he claimed further repairs were needed to make the roof watertight. The pensioner asked to seek other quotes, but Maughan became increasingly insistent and pressured her into agreeing to the higher amount.
He then offered additional work staining and varnishing window frames and painting the property. The cost spiralled to £7,000, and again no cooling-off documentation was provided.
Maughan persistently pressured the pensioner to withdraw money from her bank account while work remained incomplete. Despite initial reluctance, she transferred £7,000 to him.
He attempted to secure yet more work, suggesting repointing bricks beneath the front windows for an additional £2,500. After negotiation, the woman agreed to pay £2,000 — without receiving any notice of her consumer rights.
The alert that stopped the exploitation
A cashier at the pensioner's bank became suspicious when Maughan continued to pressure her for payment and urge her to make trips to the bank. The cashier contacted Cleveland Police.
Officers attended the property and, concerned about the poor quality of work, advised the pensioner not to make any further payments. The case was referred to Hartlepool Borough Council's Trading Standards Team.
An independent chartered building surveyor commissioned to inspect the work found it displayed a "consistent pattern of sub-standard execution, inadequate preparation and disregard for correct materials and methods".
The pensioner said in a victim impact statement that her home had been left in an "awful mess", with almost all of her windows sealed shut with varnish.
The charges
Maughan faced seven charges: two for breaching consumer protection regulations, four for breaches of consumer contracts regulations, and one relating to a Fraud Act offence.
Councillor Amanda Napper, Chair of Hartlepool Borough Council's Neighbourhoods and Regulatory Services Committee, said: "This case highlights the calculated and persistent tactics rogue traders can use to exploit vulnerable residents. We are pleased to have secured this conviction and will continue to take strong action against those who prey on our communities."