A BUILDER who left victims thousands of pounds out of pocket over shoddy and inadequate work on their homes was ordered to compensate them fully.

David Hughes, 50, of Pen y Cwarel Road, Wyllie, near Blackwood, was also handed a suspended prison sentence over his failings.

He was brought to court following a Caerphilly Trading Standards investigation, prosecutor Thomas Stanway said.

They probed poor work at the home of an 80-year-old woman in Llanbradach and a couple from Kilgetty, Pembrokeshire.

Hughes, who was trading as DH Builders, admitted Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations and Companies Act offences committed in 2019.

MORE NEWS: Dealer used barber shop as front for supplying drugs

The victim from Llanbradach lost £2,500 and the Pembrokeshire complainants £10,000 over a loft conversion, Cardiff Crown Court heard.

Peter Donnison, representing the defendant, said his client was a man of previous good character with no convictions.

His barrister told how Hughes had worked as a builder for 31 years and added: “He wishes to apologise to the court and to the victims.”

Judge Geraint Walters told the defendant: “You had a run a business lawfully for over 30 years before you fell upon difficult timesgrossly underestimated costs which set you up to fail.”

He said Hughes had left his victims “high and dry”.

The defendant was jailed for four months, suspended for two years.

He was ordered him to pay his victims the £2,500 and £10,000 he owed them in compensation.

Hughes must also pay £2,500 prosecution costs and a £115 victim surcharge.

Outside the court, Tim Keohane, a senior trading standards officer with Caerphilly Trading Standards said: “We are delighted with the result of their investigation, especially the compensation awarded to the victims.

“The sentence sends out a strong message to traders who seek to take advantage of our residents, especially those who are vulnerable.”