A DRAINAGE engineer from Bournemouth has been ordered to pay more than £9,000, after he misled a 94-year-old woman about work done at her home.

Brendon James White, 26, of Cheriton Avenue, admitted two offences under the Consumer Protection From Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 of misleading a consumer while carrying out drainage work at their property.

He entered his guilty plea at Poole Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, just before the start of a two-day trial.

The court heard how in May 2018, White called, uninvited, at the pensioner's home in West Parley and offered to carry out a free CCTV inspection of the drains.

During the inspection he told her that a drain was blocked. After clearing it he went on to state there were a large amount of roots growing into in the drainage system, there were displaced joints and that the drains required lining.

She paid £3,435 on her bank card while White carried on with the work.

After the woman’s daughter contacted Dorset Council Trading Standards with her concerns, an independent expert examined the drains and reported there was no evidence of any work being required.

He valued the work that may have been required at only £172.

White was fined £2,970, ordered to pay £3,000 costs, £3262.44 compensation to his victim and a £170 victim surcharge.