A "rogue" landscaper who conned two householders out of thousands of pounds for work that was never finished has been jailed.
Patrick Brien who claimed to be a reputable tradesman, fed the devastated customers a "series of lies" told them to "‘stop stressing" him. He even issued threats before vanishing, taking their money and leaving their gardens' a mess.
In an extraordinary outburst the 46-year-old, who a court heard has a long criminal record with more than 50 offences including a rape conviction, lashed out a judge as he was sent down calling him a "muppet", an "a******e" and saying he would refuse to pay compensation as he had been ordered.
