A builder overcharged a pensioner by tens of thousands of pounds for shoddy work on his Old Town house which wasn't needed, a jury has been told.

John Hart even smashed a hole in the bedroom ceiling of the mid terrace in The Mall and then claimed it had fallen in and needed repairing, the court heard.

And it is alleged the 61-year-old took more than £30,000 in payments for work which should have cost no more than £5,000 and for a bathroom that never arrived.

Hart, of Pokesdown, Bournemouth, is standing trial at Swindon Crown Court after denying one count of fraud.

Simon Foster, prosecuting, said 76-year-old David Taylor had called in the builder after finding a damp patch in his bathroom.

Having looked through the Thompson Local Directory he said he called a freephone number for a company called Warm Wall, which was answered by Hart.

After arriving at the house in October 2013, where the pensioner had lived all his life, Mr Foster said he told him of a number of other things that needed doing.

As well as saying a new bathroom suite had to be fitted he said he also told him the roof timbers were suffering an infestation and needed treating, there was a damp problem and painting needed to be done.

But Mr Foster said Charles Leigh-Dugmore, a member of the chartered institute of builders, had assessed the work and what if should have cost.

While most of what was done could have been carried out for a fraction of what was handed over, he said any insulation could have fitted free under various schemes.

“The Crown’s case is whether that work was done properly or not, the defendant in this case could see both from his property and I fear from its owner a sort of profitable seam that was there for him to mine," Mr Foster said.

"He suggested to Mr Taylor that perhaps the loft needed some insulation: I have already told you what Mr Leigh-Dugmore said about that. Mr Taylor having been told so by Mr Hart thought this was so.

"He agreed to a further proposition that the roof needed some spraying because of an infestation. He can’t recall what price was quoted.

"Mr Hart went on to say his bathroom needed a complete refurbishment. The cost would be £13,000.

"The elderly Mr Taylor isn’t too sure of the dates and times but it doesn’t really matter."

He said within weeks of he had taken just over £20,000 from Mr Taylor, doing a small amount of work but saying he would be back in March to fit the bathroom.

When he returned he said he painted the bathroom ceiling and white washed walls, but said he was having problems getting the suite and needed another £4,000.

He said in April he told him he was still having trouble finding bathroom fixtures, saying the same in August 2014 adding he would need another £6,000.

Later in August Mr Taylor got back from the dentist to find his bedroom ceiling had come down while Steve Longman, a subcontractor of Mr Hart's, was in the bathroom.

But the other builder claims Hart had borrowed his claw hammer and ladder from him and smashed the masonry himself.

Mr Foster said Mr Longman wanted no part of it and told the police what he had seen.

When he was questioned Hart claimed that Mr Taylor had said his house needed to be 'done up' and that he had done anything wrong.

He denies the charge of fraud and the case continues.