Police warning over cowboy landscaper (From Free Press Series)

Police warning over cowboy landscaper

CHEPSTOW police say a 'cowboy' landscaper abused a pensioner and further damaged her broken fence because she rejected his over-inflated prices to mend it.

DC Mike Roy warned pensioners in the area not to 'engage in conversation with the man if he approaches' but to politely shut the door and contact the police, a neighbour or a friend.

The man, in his 20s, called on the 70-year-old woman's house in St Kingsmark Avenue in Chepstow around 2.45pm on Tuesday after noticing six panels in her fence needed repairing.

He offered to do the job for the resident, who asked not to be identified, and offered a price of £650.

When she refused he dropped his asking price to £420 but again she rejected his offer.

DC Roy said: "At this point the male became abusive and intimidating and started kicking the fence and damaging it even more.

"Finally the male asked her for £100 and said he'd go and get some replacement panels for her. When she told him no a third time he got even more agitated and said 'I'll drive you down to the bank so you can get me the money'."

DC Roy said: "There was a young woman sitting in his van who, at this point, came and led him away. If either of these people approaches you, do whatever you have to do to shut the door.

"Be polite, but don't engage in a conversation with them, phone someone close by, a neighbour or friend or call us out.

The perpetrators are trying the 'hard sell' and picking on the elderly. Luckily this resident was quite strong and 'with it'."

The man is white, slim and about 5ft 5ins tall. He wore a yellow fluorescent jacket with silver trim and had a strong Welsh accent. The woman was also in her 20s and smartly dressed with her hair in a bun.

The white van they drove had the word 'Landscapers' on it and a picture of an oak tree.