A rogue trader who misled customers has been ordered to pay more than £6,000 in compensation and court costs, following a successful prosecution by Cornwall Council’s Trading Standards team.
On Wednesday, July 23, Danny Alan Hughes, who traded as Southwest Tree Care, appeared at Truro Magistrates’ Court having previously pleaded guilty to three Unfair Trading offences and one offence of Fraud.
Trading Standards investigated Hughes after customers complained saying Hughes has cold-called at their property. They also complained about the quality of work carried out.
The court heard how Hughes, aged 28, knocked on the doors of three properties in the Helston area in May and June 2024 offering gardening and tree cutting services.
He misled customers claiming that he had been working on adjoining properties and that neighbours had referred him.
Hughes failed to provide the legally- required cancellation information, denying customers the opportunity to reflect and consider whether they might want to cancel the contract.
He also misled customers into signing a legal waiver to allow work to start immediately, fraudulently claiming that they were simply signing a waste transfer note.
The Magistrates noted that Hughes had previous convictions from North and East Devon Magistrates’ Court for similar offences.
They sentenced Hughes to 24 weeks imprisonment, suspended for one year.
Hughes was also ordered to pay compensation to two of his customers, totalling £2,140, and a £150 victim surcharge.
Cornwall Council was awarded full costs of £3,910.30.
Councillor Thalia Marrington, the cabinet member with responsibility for Community Wellbeing and Public Health at Cornwall Council, said: “This manipulative individual deliberately deceived his customers and tricked them into waiving their right to cancel.
“No traders should pressurise or mislead customers in this way.
“I’m pleased that the victims in this case are being compensated and hope this prosecution serves as a warning to others that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated in Cornwall.”
Press release issued on July 29, 2025