Stourbridge gardener fined for not completing job and blocking driveway with skip
A gardener who failed to carry out work he had been paid to do and left a skip blocking a customer's driveway for months, has been landed with a court bill of more than £2,700.
Adam Morris, aged 31, from Scafell Road, Stourbridge, started working on Richard Newton's garden in Grazebrook Road, Dudley, in August 2015.
Mr Newton paid £1,680 to Morris, who was then trading under a gardening company, and building materials were brought to his property.
But shortly after, Morris contacted Mr Newton saying there had been 'some problems' and to expect a delay, Wolverhampton Magistrates was told.
Mr Tim Holder, prosecuting on behalf of Dudley Council, said: "A few more excuses came along saying he had problems with this van.
"So Mr Newton kept chasing him and a skip arrived in October 2015 but in the December he called Morris and complained of the lack of progress.
"More money was paid out but he did not come back to work on it.
"In the New Year Morris said he would make an adjustment of balance, but Mr Newton then went to trading standards.
"Mr Newton had paid out £2,125 but the job was never completed and then Mr Morris said he was closing his business."
Morris pleaded guilty to knowingly/recklessly engaging in a commercial practice.
He was ordered to pay £1,705 in compensation, costs of £800, a fine of £250 and a victim surcharge of £30.
Mr Jahawer, defending, said that Morris had been through a 'bad patch' due to difficulties in his private life.
He said: "He is a multi-skilled tradesman who has been working for 12 years and this was a one-off.
"He had one employee but he disappeared without informing him.
"This had a knock-on effect where a number of jobs got postponed and this fell in line with a difficult home life.
"Anxiety and depression kicked in and he accepted that he buried his head in the sand, but he really did want to carry on with the job and apologises for his recklessness."
District Judge Graham Wilkinson criticised Morris saying he had 'repeatedly fobbed off' Mr Newton.
He added: "You left his garden in a despicable state and blocked his drive for eight months and chose not to get the skip removed.
"It was all down to you making promises that you could not keep. Mr Newton is the polar opposite of you and wanted to give you every chance because he trusted you."
