Hertfordshire County Cllr Ajanta Hilton has highlighted the role of trading standards officers in securing the conviction of rogue trader Arthur Draper.

She told councillors that she hopes the sentence will send a clear message that "this kind of exploitation will not be tolerated".

Arthur Draper, 41, of no fixed address, was sentenced to a three-year custodial sentence at St Albans Crown Court last month (January).

An investigation by the county council's trading standards suggested that Draper had targeted residents in Hertfordshire and Nottinghamshire by falsely claiming that urgent roof repairs were needed between November 2022 and January 2023.

In court, he pleaded guilty to committing fraud following a series of cold-calling incidents intended to defraud residents of a total of £141,900.

Highlighting the outcome at a meeting of the county council's public health and community safety cabinet panel on Monday (February 2), executive member Cllr Hilton recognised the "excellent success in the courts".

She told councillors: "I would like to thank and congratulate our trading standards officers for all their hard work in securing a successful prosecution at St Albans Crown Court recently for Arthur Draper, who was sentenced to a three-year custodial sentence following a series of cold calling incidents, trying to defraud home-owners.

"And that was for a total of £141,900, with £90,200 obtained via cheques and bank transfers fraudulently.

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"An investigation by trading standards found that Draper targeted home-owners who were pressured into paying large sums unnecessarily for incomplete or sub-standard work, leaving victims financially harmed and emotionally distressed.

"The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offending. And I hope it sends a clear message that this kind of exploitation will not be tolerated."

Cllr Hilton made the remarks at a meeting of the county council's public health and community safety cabinet panel on Monday (February 2).