Retired Army captain Richard Nicholson was left fuming after he was duped by a conman who helped him with his gardening.

The trickster charged him £50 for taking away garden cuttings and then stole his chainsaw.

The 75-year-old was approached by the man while he was clearing a leylandi bush from the front garden at his home in Westbury Road, North Bradley.

Mr Nicholson, who was a captain in the Army’s Air Dispatch Squadron at RAF Lyneham for 22 years and was awarded the MBE for his service, said: “He was very charming and plausible. I am just kicking myself for being so naive.”

The man, described as being in his 30s, saw Mr Nicholson at work and offered to do it for him.

“I told him I was okay and then he saw the debris and asked me what I was going to do about it.

“I said I was going to burn it but he said he could take it all away for me instead. He wanted £100 for doing it but I said I wasn’t paying that and we agreed at £50.”

The man began the work but needed to borrow Mr Nicholson’s chainsaw, which he said is worth £100.

After he loaded up his pick-up the man began chatting and asked Mr Nicholson about his shooting hobby.

“He asked if by any chance I had a shotgun for sale, which I did. I showed him it and when he said he’d buy it I asked him if he had a licence. He said he didn’t so I said I couldn’t sell it to him and asked him to leave.

“After he’d gone I noticed he’d taken my chainsaw. I thought he had taken it by mistake. I left it a couple of days to see if he would come back but he didn’t so I called the police.”

Officers warned him to ensure his guns are locked away safely. “They always are,” he said. “I feel such a fool being caught out by this man.

“But there are a lot of fools out there so I think they need to be warned.”