A PAINTER and decorator was paid a £200 deposit for a job at a house but then failed to return to do the work, a court was told.Robert Riches, 24, of Queen's Road, Bungay, pleaded guilty to fraud when he appeared yesterday at Lowestoft Magistrates' Court.
A PAINTER and decorator was paid a £200 deposit for a job at a house but then failed to return to do the work, a court was told.
Robert Riches, 24, of Queen's Road, Bungay, pleaded guilty to fraud when he appeared yesterday at Lowestoft Magistrates' Court.
Naomi Turner, prosecuting, said the case dated back to May. Father-of-four Riches told the couple he had agreed to work for which he needed a £200 deposit.
James Hartley, for Riches, said his client had problems getting on with the male customer after efforts were made to beat him down on price while getting him to do more
work. Although he failed to carry out the work, he had left his ladder and other equipment at the unnamed couple's address.
He added that Mr Riches was no longer a painter and decorator and was hoping for seasonal work at a local toy factory.
District judge David Cooper gave Riches a one-year conditional discharge and told him to pay back the £200.
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