A FATHER and son conman team who targeted elderly victims in Somerset have escaped jail.
Rogue traders Thomas Johnson, 57, and Tommy Johnson, 29, were arrested after a trading standards investigation uncovered their shoddy work resurfacing driveways for extortionate amounts of money.
Johnson senior, of Birtley Road, Guildford, Surrey, was jailed for 21 months suspended for two years and given a curfew order at Exeter Crown Court.
His son, of the same address, was sentenced to 18 months suspended for two years, along with 150 community service.
They must also pay £1,000 each in costs, while Johnson senior faces a further bill as he will be subjected to a Proceeds of Crime Act investigation.
Both men pleaded guilty in August to offences under the Fraud Act 2006 following the probe by Devon and Somerset Trading Standards.
The court had heard that the Johnsons used the name of a dissolved company, Nuway Surfacing Ltd, to cold call elderly people across the South-West offering to resurface driveways.
Johnson senior wore a meaningless identification badge he had issued himself.
The defendants' vehicles had orange lights fitted on the top, and were marked with reflective strips often seen on legitimate highway contractors' vehicles, in an attempt to gain trust.
They charged their victims, aged between 64 and 86, well over the appropriate rate for the work, which involves a film of hot tar covered by loose chippings.
Their work was also not completed to the required standard.
Their guilty plea related to substandard work, fraudulent non provision of cancellation rights, the use of false paperwork, and other articles for use in the fraud.
Referring to their resurfacing work for consumers, Mr Recorder Richard Onslow said the Johnsons had “steamrollered over their rights”.
Last week’s sentencing coincided with national Rogue Trader week.
Somerset County Council's cabinet member responsible for Devon and Somerset Trading Standards, Cllr David Hall, said: "Rogues like this operate across county boundaries and our trading standards have to as well in order to deal with them effectively.
"The Devon and Somerset service is well placed to meet these challenges.”
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