A cowboy builder who ripped off a Whitstable pensioner has been jailed for two years and 10 months.

The work he carried out at the house in Chestfield should have cost the 82-year-old victim around £2600.

But a judge heard how rogue workman Peter Swain charged him a whopping £54,100.

Now Swain, of Iffin Lane, Thanington Without, has been told he had deliberately taken advantage of his vulnerable victim.

Canterbury Crown Court heard how the fraudster targeted the pensioner in May 2015, asking if he wanted his driveway cleaned.

The victim agreed and work began – only for Swain to claim other work at the property needed doing.

"This man was vulnerable because of his age and Swain took advantage of that" - DC Brigitte Collard

Judge Adele Williams heard how the conman even took photographs to convince the pensioner that the repair work needed doing, but never set a price.

Swain told the man his name was Michael Tate and kept asking for more and more money to be paid into his bank account, eventually pocketing more than 20 times its value.

But the judge heard that when an expert was called in to undertake an in-depth report on the quality and value of the work, he decided if it had been done by an expert, it should only have cost £2,682.

Swain – who claimed another builder he worked with had done all the quotes – has since repaid £300 to his victim.

Judge Williams told the builder, who admitted fraud by false representation: "You committed fraud on an old man, doing work on his property which was worth £2600, and yet charging him £54,000.

"This man was vulnerable because of his age and anyone committing fraud in this way can expect nothing but an immediate jail sentence."

After the sentencing, investigating officer Detective Constable Brigitte Collard said: "This man was vulnerable because of his age and Swain took advantage of that.

"We are committed to protecting vulnerable members of the community by showing rogue traders operating in Kent the red card.

"Residents should feel safe when they employ a contractor, but rogue traders cause unnecessary distress through poor workmanship and bad practices and I am pleased this man is now behind bars, unable to try and con other members of the public."

KCC trading standards operations manager Clive Phillips added: "This sends a clear message that this type of callous offending will not be tolerated and we will continue to pursue offenders who prey on the vulnerable members of our community."

People are advised to obtain at least three quotes for work that needs to be carried out, always check reference and never be pressured into signing contracts.