MARTIN Lobo admitted two charges of “issuing false or misleading advertisement” at Weymouth Magistrates Court.

The 52-year-old admitted that between July 20 and August 9 last year he misled Mrs Finch to believe that work would meet the planning permission requirements.

Lobo, of Old Parish Lane, Weymouth, also admitted that on January 8 he misled Mrs Finch by informing her that planning permission was to be granted.

Martin Thursby, prosecuting for Trading Standards, said: “Mr Lobo telephoned Mrs Finch and said that he had received what he called a ‘tip-off’ from an employee of the planning department that permission had been granted to replace the windows. Mr Lobo then visited Mrs Finch and obtained a deposit of £2,125 for the windows. However, planning permission had not been granted.”

Simon Lacey, in mitigation, said: “He struggles to see how he is being prosecuted for it as the issues were resolved but strictly there is an offence.”

The court was told that Lobo has £80,000 of personal debt but £25,000 of equity in a house.

Magistrate Jennifer Simm said “We feel it would be right to award a great deal of money to these people but we can award no more than £5,000.”

Lobo was also given a two-year conditional discharge for each offence, to run concurrently.