Semington man Patrick Ward deceived an 83-year-old woman when he inflated his price while carrying out substandard work on her drive.

Ward, of Greenacre Mobile Park, admitted two offences under the Consumer Prote-ction from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 at Salisbury Magistrates’ Court.

He called at the Trowbridge home of Marjorie Ellery, 83, on March 9, 2013, and offered to replace a driveway for a price of £475.

Ten days later, he returned with three other men and, before starting any work, produced an invoice for £1,400.

As the work progressed, Mrs Ellery was asked for £500 to buy concrete and Ward accompanied her to the bank to withdraw the cash.

When the work was done, Mrs Ellery was asked for the remaining £1,000, plus £100 for a drain installation, bringing the total to more than three times the amount she had first agreed to pay.

Ward was fined £150 for the offence of misleading a consumer about the price of work.

The work contravened the requirements of professional diligence, and Ward was fined a further £50.

He was ordered to give Mrs Ellery £4,428, pay a £20 victim surcharge and £1,915 in costs to Wiltshire Council, making a total of £6,563.

The magistrates said Ward had exploited an old lady.