A FRAUDSTER who conned people into believing he was a reputable trader by pretending to have featured on DIY SOS has been jailed for five years.

James Carter, of Vicarage Road, Wollaston, pretended to have been on the BBC show to get work but the unqualified 40-year-old's "shoddy" building and roofing work left 15 customers out of pocket.

He admitted five counts of fraud relating to the offending - which took place between July 2015 and February last year, and was jailed for four-and-a-half years for the offences when he appeared at Stafford Crown Court on Monday.

Carter, who also went by the name James Eccles, will also spend an additional six months behind bars for breaching a suspended sentence, handed to him in October 2016 for benefit fraud.

A criminal behaviour order was also imposed on Carter, which prevents him from carrying out building and roofing work.

Councillor Peter Miller, Dudley's cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “We are delighted with the decision of the court, which sends out a strong message that rogue trading will not be tolerated.

“The lengthy jail sentence is a suitable punishment for the misery this man has caused to a lot of people, and the imposition of a criminal behaviour order will prevent him from ever carrying out such work again unless he is fully qualified to do so."

Cllr Miller said that rogue traders were "a menace to our community", adding: "People took this man at face value. They believed he was a reputable trader. "He was anything but, and ended up costing his customers thousands and thousands of pounds, both to pay for his shoddy work and then to employ someone else after to fix it.

“Rogue traders don’t just leave a trail of destruction in their wake, they also erode public trust in legitimate builders who are excellent at what they do and fully qualified. The actions of these people can affect the ability of genuine tradesmen to earn a living.

“Dudley Trading Standards officers will continue to do all in their powers to protect residents."

Anyone who has been the victim of rogue traders should call the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0345 404 0506.