A ROGUE tradesman has been ordered to pay back money to his victims after taking funds for work he did not intend to carry out.

Marvin Little received a community order and was told to pay compensation of £3,600 after duping people in his role as a tarmac specialist.

He admitted to two offences of fraud and a further two offences where work was incomplete or substandard at Reading Crown Court.

Trading under his own name or under the name of Pavmac, he took advance fees for work he did not intend to carry out and misled customers into believing their work would be done.

In October 2016, he received £4,500 for work he never started after quoting to do building and driveway work at two properties in Hungerford.

In the same year, he was paid £5,000 to rebuild a driveway, lawn area and wall. The wall bowed and had to be rebuilt and there were various other problems with the standard of work.

An independent expert stated the work was of such poor quality it was only valued at £1,434.

Another offence saw Little hired to cover up a trench at the front of a property, build a path and provide a concrete base for a shed in the rear garden.

He was paid £2,300 in cash towards the work, but he installed a concrete foundation for the shed which was too small.

Little, of Wheeler Avenue, Swindon, left without completing the job, with the homeowner having to complete the work.

He was eventually caught following an investigation by the Public Protection Partnership (PPP) and has been ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work as part of his sentence.

Cllr Iain McCracken, Chairman of the Joint Public Protection Committee, said: “The Public Protection Partnership will always investigate such complaints by the public and legal action will follow where appropriate. This kind of offending that leaves people with unsafe property and out-of-pocket is completely unacceptable. We believe this sentence sends a clear message to would-be perpetrators.

“Residents with concerns about activity of this nature, or any other trading standards or public protection matter, should contact the service on 01635 519930 or e-mail tsadvice@westberks.gov.uk."