A conman who works in Upchurch is to be sentenced for intimidating four homeowners into paying £27,500 for shoddy work on their driveways.

Owen Francis Saunders, 31, admitted six offences under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations in a prosecution brought by Kent County Council Trading Standards.

He admitted six counts of misleading customers, and another three of using aggressive sales tactics.

An independent expert estimated that the value of the jobs, all carried out in the Whitstable area, was just £271.

When interviewed about the offences, the Wrotham resident, who owns Berkeley Driveways, based at Orchard Park in Oak Lane, refused to comment.

His eldest victim was a 71-year-old disabled woman who was living alone.

Canterbury Crown Court heard how at one point Saunders’ workers pushed over her existing garden wall, leaving her no choice but to have the work done at a cost which rose to more than £10,000.

A 50-year-old neighbour agreed to a new drive on the proviso that work did not start straight away.

Nevertheless, the men started the same day and the work was poor.

The contractors were given their marching orders by a 70-year-old woman who had also not given them permission to start.

And a 55-year-old man ended up with a £10,000 bill for a driveway that was assessed to be totally worthless.

All the incidents took place between January and February last year.

Trading standards manager Mark Rolfe told the court: “This was one of the worst cases my colleagues and I have come across.

“He preyed on vulnerable people without a thought for anything except lining his own pockets.

“He used aggressive tactics to get work, and then rode roughshod over customers’ rights by starting work before the agreed start date, restricting customers’ rights to cancel, increasing charges partway through a contract, and providing poor workmanship which would deteriorate far too quickly.

“Saunders had received previous advice and a written warning from Trading Standards, which he ignored.”

The case which took place on September 23, was adjourned for sentencing.