Gillingham man jailed after charging pensioner £15,000 for ground clearance work

The victim, described by Kent Police as a man in his 70s, paid £15,000 for ground clearance work at his home. The force has not publicly named the offender or the victim, and no details of the sentence length or the court that dealt with the case were included in the post.

The arrest took place at or immediately outside a prison, suggesting the offender was already in custody for a separate matter at the time police detained him in connection with this case. Kent Police have not confirmed the circumstances of his prior detention.

Kent Police published the footage alongside a link to a fuller account of the case. Rogue trader offences in England and Wales are prosecuted under the Fraud Act 2006, which covers dishonestly making false representations and abusing a position to cause financial loss. National Trading Standards has previously reported that older adults are disproportionately targeted by doorstep crime of this kind.

Responsibility for civil enforcement and consumer protection advice on rogue traders in the area sits with Medway Council Trading Standards and Kent County Council Trading Standards.

Key information

• Anyone who suspects rogue trading activity in Kent or Medway should contact Kent Police on 101 or report it to the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133.
• Medway Council Trading Standards can be contacted through the Medway Council website for advice on vetted local traders.
• The public are advised to seek multiple written quotes before agreeing to any home or garden work and to avoid making large cash payments upfront.