A landscaper has been ordered to pay more than £2,600 in fines after his garden maker was so bad he was taken to court.
Daryl Sanders was convicted at Teesside Magistrates Court of performing unsatisfactory landscaping works without reasonable care and skill.
A couple from Hartlepool paid Sanders £5,900 in May 2020 to landscape their property, TeessideLive reports.
However, the couple quickly discovered loose paving slabs and edging blocks.
The paving and edging blocks had been laid over a thin sub-base laid directly onto existing turf with no digging out apparent.
Some of the blocks could simply be lifted by hand and the grouting cracked immediately, allowing weeds to permeate.
Furthermore, the new turf was sinking in places and it was found that it had simply been laid on top of old diseased turf.
The concrete base which was requested to be a set size for a garden shed was made too small, and the shed would not fit.
Sanders was asked to return to rectify the work and he agreed to do so about 10 tens, but failed to turn up each time, a court heard.
The couple then took Sanders to court where he pleaded guilty to an offence under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, in a case brought by Hartlepool Borough Council Trading Standards.
Hartlepool Trading Standards arranged to have the works assessed by a Chartered Member of the Landscape Institute which found it hadn’t been done to an acceptable standard for a paid service and would cost the householder more to rectify and reinstate the materials in an acceptable fashion.
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Neil Harrison, Senior Trading Standards Officer for Hartlepool Borough Council said: "The Trading Standards department will not hesitate to take action against those who rip-off consumers in this fashion.
"All traders are capable of a poor job once in a while but the number of problems with this work was simply unacceptable and coupled with the failure of the trader to return and put matters right a prosecution was deemed an appropriate course of action."
Mr Harrison added: “Unfortunately for the victims, in this case, they are left with their back garden looking an eyesore and they will have a significant outlay to make the garden look as it should have. Cases like these are stressful for those involved."
Hartlepool Borough Council urges anyone who has concerns regarding work performed at their property to contact Trading Standards on (01429) 523362.
