Patrick Doran, 26, of Ruthin Road, Wrexham, persuaded the woman to hand over £40 cash up front so he could buy materials to carry out the work at her house on Dee Road, Connah's Quay, Wrexham magistrates were told.

He was fined a total of £370 because he broke consumer protection laws, which state customers should be presented with paperwork giving notice they have a seven day "cooling off" period in which they can cancel work any work agreed to.

Ron Hughes, prosecuting, of Flintshire Council's trading standards department, revealed the woman had a sign up in her property reading "no cold callers". The defendant, however, claimed he had walked up the drive of the house, seen the sign, and turned round to leave before being stopped by the pensioner and asked to carry out the work.

Mr Hughes said his department had received a report that an elderly woman had been called on by two men, offering to paint the front of her house for £250.

"When trading standards turned up the lady was very confused," Mr Hughes added.

"The daughter of the lady says that, despite the fact there was a large notice saying 'no cold callers', they knocked at the door and agreed painting work to be done for £250.

"She had paid £40 in advance but was not given any paperwork whatsoever.

"We found the work done was very sloppy and the ladder they had brought along was not big enough to reach the upper level of the house."

He added that Doran had not provided paperwork under the Consumer Protection of Contracts Concluded Away from Business Premises Act, which states that consumers must be informed they have a week to reconsider after agreeing to work.

Mr Hughes added: "The defendant claimed all the paperwork was locked in his van, to which he had lost the keys."

John Gittings, defending, said: "(Doran) says he told her about the legislation and says she was keen to get the job going and gave him money to buy materials."

Magistrates fined Doran £200 with additional costs of £155 and a victim surcharge of £15.

A suspended sentence Mr Doran had received in March 2006 for driving while disqualified was not activated, but instead extended for a further six months to December.