A ROGUE trader has been told to pay £2,400 in compensation after failing to carry out garden landscaping work.

Craig Parker, of Neasham Avenue, Billingham, appeared at Teesside Crown Court on Monday following an investigation by Stockton's trading standards team.

Parker, who was trading as RJL Block Paving and Landscapes and C&P Block Paving and Landscapes, admitted three offences of engaging in unfair commercial practices under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations.

He had received almost £6,000 in total from three customers for garden landscaping, decking and block paving jobs but failed to adequately complete the work, Stockton Council said. He had received deposits between June 2019 and July 2020.

The 39-year-old was given a 12 month suspended prison sentence, and told to pay £2,400 in compensation.

In mitigation, Mr Parker said family issues had led him to take on more work than he could manage.

Jamie McCann, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council’s director of community services and transport, said: “Mr Parker’s conduct in each of the three cases was simply unacceptable and has caused considerable financial and emotional stress.

“Traders must take their legal obligations seriously or they will very likely find themselves dealing with the consequences in court. I hope this serves as a lesson to Mr Parker and as a warning to others that our Trading Standards team robustly investigate reports of unfinished and substandard work.”