A COLD-calling builder who conned a trusting pensioner into paying out more than £6,000 for new roof timbers he didn’t need has received a suspended jail sentence.

Aaron Barnes, 32, of Leigh Road, Eastleigh, visited the home of Paul Dickson in Ashley Heath near Ringwood on April 21 last year quoting £1,800 for new soffits, fascias and guttering.

After starting the work he told Mr Dickson he had found rotten timber and crumbling mortar in the roof and quoted £7,810 to repair it.

Mr Dickson agreed to the work but called in Trading Standards to investigate.

A chartered surveyor concluded that the work had been unnecessary.

Father-of-four Barnes admitted one fraud offence, four counts of failing to provide a written notice of cancellation rights and entering into a contract that contained a misleading omission.

In his defence, Bournemouth Crown Court was told that he had entered an early guilty plea and not deliberately targeted Mr Dickson.

He had “righted all the work that was wrong at his own personal cost”, selling his van to compensate Mr Dickson.

Barnes was sentenced to 52 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, He was also ordered to carry out 250 hours of community work and pay £6,010 compensation.