Rogue traders found guilty for offences in Plymouth and Exeter

Partnership working between Devon and Somerset Trading Standards Service, Plymouth City Council Trading Standards, and Devon and Cornwall Constabulary claimed a success today, as two doorstep rogue traders pleaded guilty to fraud and Consumer Protection offences at Taunton Crown Court.

James Doran (29) of Quedgely in Gloucester and Patrick Connors (23) of Hatfield in Hertfordshire, pleaded guilty to a variety of offences committed in the summer of 2012 in Plymouth and Exeter.

They had travelled to the area, and in August, trading as South West Drives and Patios, approached a elderly resident of Plympton to install a block paved driveway at his home.

The men put pressure on the gentleman who reluctantly agreed a contract for £6,500.  The works to be done at the property were supposed to include laying a weed control membrane, and a hardcore base and 50mm of sharp sand before paving was laid. However the work done was of a poor quality.

Police were alerted to the situation following a call from the manager of the bank  where the elderly gentleman went to ask for a loan of £6000 to cover the cost of the driveway.  Suspicion was aroused when the manager investigated the paperwork and was not satisfied the company were legitimate.

An examination of the driveway has shown that no membrane had been laid and digging out and hardcore provision had not been satisfactory.

The block paving was laid directly onto earth in many places and 18 months on the drive is deteriorating and weed ridden.  All of these amount to breaches of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations, to which the pair have pleaded guilty.

However the investigation also revealed that no cancellation notice was provided to the resident and other paperwork provided had false information in relation to an address for the business.  Doran also gave false names to the resident and these issues were also prosecuted as Fraud Act offences.

Within days the pair had turned up in Exeter, this time trading as Abbey Drives, again with paperwork giving a false address. They attempted to persuade an elderly resident to enter a similar contract. However this time the residents’ son and daughter in law were able to stop the work being completed.  Again a false name was given and no cancellation rights provided.

The Police and Trading Standards officers got involved, and when the pair were stopped, flyers for yet a third trading style, Town and Country Driveways, were found in their vehicle, showing they intended to carry on in a similar vein.

The Doorstep Crime Partnership, involving the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary and the Trading Standards services in their area (Devon and Somerset Trading Service, Cornwall Council, Plymouth City Council and Torbay Council) aims to share intelligence and best practice in order to reduce the harm caused by these type of offences. In this case the intelligence was shared between the Plymouth and Devon and Somerset Services, and the police, enabling the offenders to be identified and a case to be taken by the Devon and Somerset Service. 

Cabinet member with responsibility for trading standards, Cllr Roger Croad said; “This shows the real benefits that can be made from such joint working and demonstrates the commitment from all the parties involved to bring offenders to justice and raise awareness of this type of activity, which often targets the most vulnerable residents of our region”