A rogue gardener who stole large payments from several customers to fuel his drug habit has narrowly avoided prison.
Matthew Newman, of Mortimer Road in Filton, targeted four homes in the South Gloucestershire area.
The 35-year-old appeared before Bristol Magistrates’ Court on March 13 and pleaded guilty to three offences of fraudulent trading and a single count of Fraud.
For his crimes, he was sentenced on Saturday (March 27) to 300 hours of unpaid work and to repay his victims the £4,852.40 he took.
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South Gloucestershire Trading Standards received a number of complaints against Elysian Fields South West Limited which Newman, is its sole director, all involving landscaping contracts.
Newman repeatedly took large payments up front payments from his customers and then did little or no work before disappearing with their cash.
Four victims came forward, all reporting similar frauds by Newman between 2015 and 2018. He tricked his customers by saying upfront payments would cover the cost of materials for their landscaping projects.
Police helped the council's trading standards team to trace Newman.
The court hearing was told, Newman stole the money to pay for drugs.
Magistrates said had Newman not pleaded guilty at the first opportunity he would have been sent to prison.
Mark Pullin, Strong, Safer Communities Manager at South Gloucestershire Council, said: “We strongly advise householders against paying traders large sums of money or the full price up front before any work has been carried out.
“Our advice to anyone who suspects they may have been the victim of a rogue trader is to report the matter by calling the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 03454 04 05 06.”
Newman was told that he must carry out the unpaid work within the next 12 months and was also ordered to pay £500 in costs and an £85 victim surcharge.
