'I couldn’t charge him. It wouldn't sit right with me' - good Samaritan decorator fixed Edinburgh OAP's kitchen after cowboy botched the job

The woman from Edinburgh, who asked not to be named as her father is vulnerable, said painter Mikey McKinnon is a good Samaritan who saved her dad’s Christmas.

Her 82-year-old dad was ripped off by a tradesman who left his kitchen “in a total mess” then scammed more money out of him for materials that had been supplied.

She said: “This chap had said he had experience of decorating. But he left my dad’s kitchen in a total mess. He overcharged him then got more from him saying it was for materials already provided.

"I felt heart sorry for dad. He had said to the guy after maybe it needs another coat of paint or something. The guy gave him attitude and said, well there’s plenty of paint left. What did he expect – that my 82-year-old dad would get up a ladder and do it himself?”

Following her father’s ordeal, she put a warning out on social media about the cowboy tradesman before he strikes again.

She added: “We were so touched when Mr McKinnon offered to do it properly and not charge anything. I think he really felt sorry for dad.

"It’s not often you meet someone like that, a good Samaritan. Dad is delighted with his new kitchen now it’s all fixed. Compared to how that other chap left it, it’s like night and day.”

Mr McKinnon, owner of McKinnon decorators, said: “I couldn’t believe how terrible the kitchen was. It was really shoddy. He had paid £400 for it, totally over charged. Then he pulled a fast one and charged another £50. I think the poor gentleman felt pressured to hand over more money. He thought he’d be alone at Christmas so he just wanted a decent kitchen.”

The father-of-two added: "He asked if I could just give it another coat of paint. I had to break it to him that it needed completely redone. I couldn’t charge him. It wouldn't sit right with me. Knowing he had already forked out hundreds of pounds.”

“He was over the moon when I finished. Worth it to see the look on his face.”

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