Community service for rogue builder

A rogue builder, who pocketed more than £4,000 from a customer for a bathroom suite he never installed, will now have to do 100 hours unpaid work in the community following a recent court case.

The prosecution against David Turner was brought by Wirral Trading Standards.

In February 2020, a customer hired the builder to install a bathroom suite at a cost of £4,500. The consumer paid up front for the job, but the defendant failed to even to purchase the suite requested - and then refused to refund the consumer.

Mr Turner also failed to comply with his legal obligation to provide the consumer with a statutory cancellation notice or Companies Act information.

At Wirral Magistrates Court this month, the defendant faced charges in relation to the Fraud Act, regulatory matters and Companies Act offences.

He was sentenced by the Magistrates to a 12-month Community Order, with the requirement that he must do 100 hours unpaid work as a punishment, in relation the Fraud Act and regulatory offences. No additional punishment was made for the offence committed under the Companies Act 2006.

A Compensation Order was made for the amount claimed by the consumer, £3,450. The Court also directed that a victim surcharge amount of £95 be paid by the defendant, as well as a contribution of £1,000 to costs claimed. The total financial penalty was £4,545.