Two doorstep traders from Carmarthenshire have pleaded guilty to aggressive practices after repeatedly forcing a vulnerable man to withdraw money for work they did not carry out.

The case against 36-year-old Edmund Lee of Clos Llwyn, Ty Gwyn, Whitland, and his cousin, 21-year-old Benjamin Lee of Glasfryn, St Clears, was brought against them by Pembrokeshire County Council’s Public Protection Trading Standards division.

It followed a joint investigation with Dyfed-Powys Police.

In total £732 was alleged to have been handed over in just over a week in exchange for the pair undertaking a couple of hours power washing paths around the victims’ Council owned house.

Magistrates at Haverfordwest heard how the men first approached the 65-year-old man who now has carers and lives alone in Tenby, on 31st March 2017, offering to cut his grass.

When asked if he was from the Council, Lee did not answer and when asked the price of the work he told the man he would tell him after it was finished.

An agreement was made to power wash the paths around the house and clean the guttering.

Only the power washing was carried out and afterwards Lee drove the man to Tenby where £182 was withdrawn.

Lee returned a few days later on 6th April and again drove the victim to the bank in Tenby where a further £450 was withdrawn and handed over but no work carried out.

On Saturday 8th April 2017 the victim was waiting at the bus stop near his home when Lee and his cousin Benjamin approached him in a van and told him to jump in to get more money from the bank.

He was sat between them and didn’t question their demands as he was frightened. They drove to Pembroke and Haverfordwest but both banks were closed.

Benjamin then phoned the bank in Carmarthen, which was open and so they proceeded to Carmarthen where the victim was only able to withdraw £100, despite the demand for £200.

Both Lees are self employed and operate their own general maintenance businesses, yet they told the victim if they didn’t have the money, they would lose their jobs.

The victim was taken home and told to meet them the following Monday morning in Tenby and hand over £1400 otherwise they would call to his home.

At this point the victim told a family member and alerted the Police.

Lee and Lee did return to the victim’s home on the Monday morning and were arrested by PC Mark Williams of Dyfed-Powys Police.

Edmund Lee pleaded guilty to aggressive practices towards the victim and failing to supply paperwork he is legally obliged to provide, including notice of the right to cancel.

He was fined £900, ordered to pay £750 costs and £1000 compensation to the victim.

Benjamin Lee pleaded guilty to trading without professional diligence.

He was fined £250, ordered to pay £750 costs and £250 compensation to the victim.

A restraining order was granted prohibiting both men from contacting the victim or approaching his home indefinitely.

Pembrokeshire County Council’s Lead Trading Standards Officer, Sandra McSparron praised the victim’s courage and said the Authority will clamp down on illegal practices.

“I commend this victim coming forward, given how frightened he must have felt.

“These men are opportunists preying on vulnerable people and such practices will not be tolerated.

“We will pursue rogue traders in Pembrokeshire” she said.

Cabinet Member for Housing & Regulatory Services, Councillor Pat Davies added: “This case demonstrates the dedicated work that Trading Standards carry out to bring rogue traders to justice in our County and sends out a clear warning that we will not tolerate illegal and aggressive business practices in Pembrokeshire.”