A ROGUE trader has been fined thousands of pounds for conning two homeowners in Warrington.

Patrick Doherty fleeced customers of hundreds of pounds after charging them for work he had not carried out.

The 21-year-old has been ordered to pay out nearly £3,000 after admitting five offences, including engaging in misleading commercial practices.

Operating under the name of Cheshire Roofing, Doherty falsely claimed his business was based at Appleton Industrial Park.

He conned two residents into making payments for work at their homes that he had not completed, including a property on Inglewood Close in Birchwood.

Doherty, of Kingston-upon-Thames, claimed to have cleaned the guttering of one house and carried out re-mortaring when he had not.

At another property, he offered to work on a beam in the house that did not exist.

On Wednesday, June 6, Doherty was ordered to pay a total of £850 in compensation to his victims at Warrington Magistrates Court.

He was also ordered to pay £1,200 in costs, fined £800 and told to pay a victim surcharge of £50.

Cllr Judith Guthrie, Warrington Borough Council’s executive board member for public protection, said: “Our trading standards team works very hard to make sure that rogue traders don’t take advantage of Warrington consumers.

“It’s terrible to see householders facing the distress and loss of money that comes with these crimes, but it also tarnishes the reputation of the trades.

“I’m very pleased that another rogue trader has been brought to justice, and we encourage anyone who has any concerns to call the Citizens Advice consumer helpline.”