Crime

Rogue trader sentenced after charging £4,600 for painting tiles orange

Published

3 years ago

July 26, 2023

A ROGUE trader has received a community order after pleading guilty to defrauding a vulnerable consumer in mid Ceredigion out of £4,600.

Peter Billydean Price of Broadmoor Nurseries, Kilgetty, in Pembrokeshire, pleaded guilty to two fraud offences while trading as Priced 2 Improve Property and Landscaping Services, following a case brought by Ceredigion County Council’s Public Protection Service.

Aberystwyth magistrates heard how in January 2022, Price dishonestly took payments totalling £4,600 to replace all the ridge tiles on the roof of the victims home after the victim placed an advert online looking for a roofer to contact him about the job.

The Council’s prosecutor said Price, 25, had intended to make a gain for himself by making misleading written promises to the victim to replace all ridge tiles on the property for £4,600. However, Price and his two male associates merely painted the existing ridge tiles in orange paint, which home CCTV captured the defendant arriving and leaving with paint and painting tools. The CCTV showed Peter Price and his associates had spent less than 3½ hours at the victim’s home in total and Price ignored telephone calls from the victim following which left the victim helpless and turning to seeking legal advice.

As part of this investigation, Trading Standards Officers from the Public Protection Service also obtained evidence from aerial drone footage which enabled a Chartered Quantity Surveyor to conclude that Price was evidently not a professional, competent and reputable roofer as the quality of the work was unacceptable. In fact, Price had merely used orange paint as a way to deceive his victim into the perception that new orange clay ridge tiles had been used.

Price’s solicitor stated that his client had relied on an ex-employee who had knowledge of roofing to lead on the job as in the main, Price’s work is primarily in ground work and paving. Price acknowledged the fee was excessive and was remorseful for his actions.

The Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Protection, Councillor Matthew Vaux, said: “At a time when a lot of households are struggling financially, this case shows the valuable work undertaken by the Council`s Public Protection Service to protect individuals in our community against rogue traders, and in turn, bringing justice for those affected by these heartless criminals.”

On Thursday 20 July 2023, magistrates sentenced Price to a 12-month Community Order with 150 hours of unpaid work, and 20 Rehabilitation Activity Requirements (RAR) days. He was also ordered to pay £4,081 compensation to the victim, £1,000 prosecution costs, and £95 court surcharge.

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Crime

Warrant issued for man accused of taking wild goldfinches

Published

3 minutes ago

May 27, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A WARRANT without bail has been issued for a Pembrokeshire man accused of capturing goldfinches from the wild.

Colwyn Robert Probert, 38, is accused of intentionally taking wild birds, namely goldfinches, at The Glebe in Tenby on or before October 17, 2025.

He is also charged with having 13 wild goldfinches in his possession or control, attempting to take wild birds on or before October 16, 2025, and failing to take reasonable steps to ensure the needs of the 13 goldfinches were met.

Probert, of Kingsmoor Caravan Park, Kilgetty, was listed to appear before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (May 26), where he was expected to enter pleas to all four offences.

After he failed to attend court, District Judge Mark Layton issued a warrant without bail for his arrest.

Crime

Tree surgeon denies drink-driving charge

Published

7 minutes ago

May 27, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A TREE surgeon has appeared before magistrates accused of driving while nearly three times over the drink-drive limit.

Ruan Austin, 49, is accused of driving an Audi along Holyland Road, Pembroke, on May 9 with 100mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.

“He was seen towing a caravan in a local petrol station, and a report was made to police by a member of the public who believed he’d been drinking,” Crown Prosecutor Dennis Davies told Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

“The defendant was then found inside the caravan, so this was a culmination of being seen intoxicated and then seen in the caravan.”

Austin, of Tanlan, Silian, Lampeter, denied the charge when he appeared before the court by live video link.

“I was asleep in my caravan and was taken out and breathalysed,” he told the court.

“I was then taken into custody, so I don’t really understand what’s going on. I’m a tree surgeon and this is all very alien to me.”

District Judge Mark Layton adjourned the case until June 4 to allow Austin time to consider the prosecution evidence ahead of his next appearance at Aberystwyth Magistrates’ Court.

Austin was released on unconditional bail.

Crime

Dock motorist fined £1,600 after four speeding offences

Published

14 minutes ago

May 27, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A PEMBROKE DOCK motorist has been handed a four-figure fine after being caught speeding in his Jaguar on four separate occasions.

Leighton Barrass, 55, was recorded driving at speeds of up to 92mph on several stretches of road in Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

He appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week and pleaded guilty to all four speeding offences.

The first incident took place on September 5, 2025, when Barrass was clocked driving at 91mph in a 70mph restricted area at Gorsley, Herefordshire.

On November 21, he was caught driving at 92mph on the M50 at Pendock Overbridge, Worcestershire. On December 5, he reached 81mph at Shuthonger, also in Worcestershire.

The fourth offence took place on February 13, 2026, when he drove his Jaguar through Droitwich, Worcestershire, again exceeding the 70mph limit.

Barrass, of Sycamore Street, Pembroke Dock, was fined £1,600 and ordered to pay £170 court costs and a £640 surcharge.

His licence was endorsed with 14 penalty points.