A FORMER television star and Colchester barber has been accused of conning the elderly and ill by pretending to carry out work on their homes.

Billy-Joe Temple was wed on Channel 4’s hit show My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding in 2012 but has since moved from the registry office to the dock.

Temple, 34, of Sandiacres Caravan Site, Cressing, is accused of going door-to-door as a rogue trader.

He, and alleged accomplice John Rochford, 26, of Binder Close, Luton, are facing four charges.

Both are accused of two counts of attempting to enter a home as a trespasser at an address in Clacton and another in Thorpe.

Both are also accused of two counts of fraud by false representation after allegedly requesting payment for work not completed intending to make a cash gain for themselves.

Emma Nash, prosecuting, said: “This is a case with two elderly complainants.

“One with dementia and a 90-year-old.”

Speaking at Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday she told the court the men would go around knocking and offering to do work on homes.

She claimed they tried to push people into getting work done without agreeing a price, took money from alleged victims without doing work and tried to take advantage of the vulnerable.

Rochford denies the charges claiming the work he carries out is genuine.

Temple did not enter a plea.

Speaking about one alleged victim Ms Nash said: “They tried to show her brochures and constantly offered discounts but they would not say how much the work would cost.

“They brought in a bucket of dirt and said it came from her gutter.

“She held out £10 and £5 notes and one of the men pulled the money from her hand and said they would return to collect the rest.”

She told the court at another property the men pretended to be from a care service.

Both appeared for plea and trial preparation hearings at Chelmsford Crown Court but the case was delayed.

Both were remanded in custody until their next appearance.