A Wokingham man has been handed a £4,000 court bill after failing to carry out fencing work at three properties.

Haydn Brown, of Three Mile Cross, Wokingham, was trading as “Browns Fencing” or “Haydn Fencing” between June 2020 and May 2021.

During this time, he advertised and quoted a service to install fencing, posts or gates to three customers.

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The trio paid ‘large deposits’ for the work to be carried out, but Brown never appeared to undertake the work.

The Public Protection Partnership said Brown ‘made excuses’ or ‘failed to respond’ to calls and messages from his customers.

Reading Magistrates’ Court heard how Brown had developed a gambling addiction during this period of time and was trying to pay people back.

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Appearing at the court on July 1, 2022, Brown pleaded guilty to three counts of engaging in a misleading commercial practice under the Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.

He was ordered to pay a fine of £300 (£100 per offence), compensation of £2,740 and prosecution costs of £1,000 together with a victim surcharge of £34.

This was a total bill of £4,074.

A spokesperson for the PPP said: “If you have concerns that you or friends, relatives or neighbours in Bracknell, West Berkshire or Wokingham, may be victims of trading related crime to contact the trading standards service on 01635 519930 or e-mail tsadvice@westberks.gov.uk. If a crime is in progress call 999.”