A roofer who pressured customers into paying hundreds of pounds more than they agreed has been ordered to pay almost £10,000.

Following an investigation by Hertfordshire County Council’s trading standards service, Thomas Watson, 20, formerly of Sandy Lane, Watford, pleaded guilty to seven charges relating to roofing work at two addresses in Hatfield and St Albans last year.

He was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay £3,100.80 in compensation to his two victims as well as £4309.98 prosecution costs and a £100 victim surcharge at St Albans Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, June 15.

The court heard that at one address Watson, who traded as 'T&J Roofing' and ‘Home Improvement’, initially agreed to carry out work costing £50 but then pressured his victim into agreeing to £800 of work.

He insisted on immediate payment and even followed her up the stairs to watch her make an online payment.

At another address Watson initially quoted £1,000 to apply wood preservative to joists but then claimed he was owed an additional £280 in VAT, despite not being registered for VAT with HMRC.

Watson admitted using aggressive commercial practices, failing to provide information on cancellation rights, failing to provide information about his address and making false claims for VAT.

In mitigation, Watson accepted his conduct had been unacceptable and assured the court that he is now in a substantially different situation, with a job and pregnant wife, and will not offend again.

Cllr Richard Thake, cabinet member for community protection, said: "It’s completely unacceptable for traders to use aggressive or threatening behaviour to get customers to agree to have work done.

"This sort of behaviour is illegal and we’ll continue to investigate and prosecute traders who try to take advantage of consumers in this way.

"I’d advise residents to always say no to uninvited callers. If you need work doing you can find a reliable trader through our trusted trader partnership with Which? at www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/goodtrader"

Members of the public can report suspected rogue traders to Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 04 05 06. Businesses needing advice should contact Hertfordshire Trading Standards' business advice line on 01707 281401.