Connor Gordon

A BOGUS landscape gardener who was snared after one of his victims read a newspaper report about his previous crimes has been ordered to pay compensation.

Michael Fennell, of Crosslee, conned David McGowan out of £3,250 on September 13, 2019.

He had claimed the cash would be used to buy equipment for the job at Mr McGowan’s home in the Drumchapel area of Glasgow.

This did not happen, however, with Fennell later ignoring attempts by 62-year-old Mr McGowan to contact him.

The victim’s wife eventually spotted a story about the bogus gardener in a newspaper.

In 2021, Fennell pleaded guilty to five fraud charges over work he did not carry out after accumulating £10,005 between April 2018 and December 2019.

His frauds spanned the west of Scotland, with five victims living in Glasgow and others based in East Renfrewshire, Inverclyde and South Lanarkshire.

They included a 61-year-old retiree and a mum and dad with two young children.

Fennell was fined £3,125 and ordered to wear an electronic tag for 90 days.

He then pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to his latest charge of fraud against Mr McGowan.

Sheriff Louise Arrol KC put him on a structured deferred sentence at a hearing in December.

This type of sentence provides a short period of focused intervention, with the aim of building the offender’s capacity for positive change.

When Fennell returned to court yesterday, he was ordered to pay Mr McGowan £3,250 in compensation.

The court earlier heard that Mr McGowan had contacted Fennell on the Ratedpeople.com website to do gardening work.

Fennell went to his home and they agreed on a quote of £6,000.

He messaged Mr McGowan later that night and asked for 25 per cent of that sum to buy equipment totalling £1,500.

Mr McGowan sent the cash by bank transfer and was assured the equipment was being ordered.

However, the victim heard nothing from Fennell for a month, until he was asked for a further £1,750 for equipment, which he then paid.

Mr McGowan tried to contact Fennell by email but was ignored.

Prosecutor Leo McGinn told the court: “Mr McGowan’s wife Maureen recognised Fennell from a newspaper report of similar incidents and identified him.”

Fennell was then reported to the police.