Builder given suspended sentence for £54,000 consumer losses
A builder has been given a suspended prison sentence after causing consumer losses of £54,000.
Following an investigation by Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Trading Standards Team, Thomas Harris, 31, of Cosford Close, Kingsway, Quedgeley, Gloucester, trading as HCG Building Contractors Ltd, was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court.
He pleaded guilty to two offences of contravening the requirements of professional diligence under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.
The court heard that Harris failed to carry out work with reasonable care and skill and failed to communicate with consumers about timescales. On each occasion, the work carried out for the three victims was of poor quality, and unfinished. There was a pattern of starting jobs, leaving homes with poor quality work, and then refusing to come back to continue with the projects without further payment from the victims.
Harris was given a 12-month suspended prison sentence and must carry out 180 hours community service. Harris has been ordered by the court to repay the three victims £14,400 in total.
Cllr Tim Ball, cabinet member for Neighbourhood Services at Bath & North East Somerset Council, said, “I hope the sentence sends a clear message that we will look to take action when innocent homeowners’ hard-earned money is lost to unscrupulous builders.”
The council runs an approved trader scheme called ‘Buy with Confidence’ where residents can search for local businesses which have been vetted and approved by Trading Standards.
