A New Barnet professor has been lumbered with a garden full of stumps and tree trunks after being conned by two men who knocked on his door.

Prof Houhanness Pilikian, from Berkeley Crescent, wanted some trees cut down in his back garden to create some room for his children to play, and was happy to employ the two men, both around 5ft 3in tall, when they knocked on his door offering their services.

After cutting three trees about halfway up the trunk, the men asked for £50 upfront and then disappeared, leaving the lawn strewn with heavy trunks and 'half-trees'.

Prof Pilikian, who is working from home writing a book, is now at a loss as to what to do with the mess.

"I'm too gullible and trusting," he said.

"I just feel very sad and sorry that people have to deceive and cheat and inconvenience people to survive. I feel very sorry for them."

Barnet Council gets hundreds of complaints every year about rogue traders. Anyone who has concerns about people offering to carry out work should call the council's 'cowboy hotline' on 020 8359 4300. It also offers advice on hiring tradesmen and has a register of trustworthy firms in the borough.

November 7, 2001 18:59