Press release published on behalf of the Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service.

A rogue plumbing and heating engineer who 'preyed' on an elderly couple, defrauding them of £13,000, has been given a 12-month suspended prison sentence.

Gary Coombes, 58, pleaded guilty to seven counts of fraud at Taunton Crown Court on Tuesday and was ordered to pay the couple £8,000 in compensation.

The court heard that Coombes, who traded as Bridgwater Heating, targeted the couple and repeatedly visited their Bridgwater home over a five-year period.

He grossly overcharged them for boiler service and maintenance work as well as general home maintenance.

It was only when the victim's daughter became suspicious and reported Coombes to Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service (HotSWTSS), that the fraud was uncovered. 

Trading Standards officers found that much of the work was unnecessary and not completed. 

On sentencing, Judge Zeb told Coombes: "On each occasion you excessively overcharged, and rendered invoices that were grossly overinflated, false, and not reflective of the work required or done.

"In all that time, [the victims] came to know you, trusted you, and paid without question."

She said that both were elderly, and the male victim was a carer for his housebound wife: "It was dependent on you to conduct works honestly and at a reasonable cost. This couple had vulnerabilities that you prayed on repeatedly and caused them financial harm and stress." 

In mitigation, she acknowledged his guilty plea and that he had started to save towards the compensation payment. 

Cllr Federica Smith-Roberts, Lead Member for Communities, Housing and Culture at Somerset Council said: "Our Trading Standards Service is an integral function to help businesses develop and grow while safeguarding consumers.

"This court case is an example of how our service will not tolerate negligence and dishonest trading.

"Residents can contact the service via the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133 and business can call 0300 123 2224."

Sharon Anderson, Group Manager of Investigations & Compliance for Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service, said: "If you're looking to have work done, then Trading Standards always advises you get a range of quotes from reputable traders, either through recommendations from people you trust or through an approved trade scheme such as the Trading Standards ran 'Buy With Confidence' scheme."

Access the Buy With Confidence approved trader scheme here: www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk.