A rogue trader whose substandard and incomplete work left a disabled city homeowner £23,300 out of pocket has been given a suspended prison sentence following a prosecution by City of Wolverhampton Council.
Neil Parker, of Lichfield Road, Wednesfield, left behind trip hazards, defective installations and a window and door that were neither watertight nor fully operable.
He was sentenced to 20 months in prison, suspended for two years, at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Thursday (30 October) after previously pleading guilty to six charges.
As part of a rehabilitation programme, Parker was ordered to carry out work with the probation service for 20 days and will be tagged and placed under curfew for three months. He was also ordered to pay his victim compensation of £2,000.
Parker, trading as P&B Garden Buildings, was originally engaged as a builder to convert an extension at a property in Bilston into a bedroom with a shower room.
The homeowners paid Parker a total of £23,300 over a number of months. But he, and those he employed, carried out poor work and did not complete the job.
Despite requests, Parker did not rectify the work and, aside from £226 for vinyl flooring, has not refunded any of the £23,300. He also did not provide adequate documentation including contract paperwork and a 10-year guarantee.
The homeowners, one of whom is disabled, had wanted the extension to avoid having to go up the stairs. But due to Parker’s poor work, now have no choice but to do this.
His incompetence also left the room so cold that the homeowners need the heating on constantly and sleep in woolly hats.
They contacted the council’s Trading Standards team for help and officers employed an independent chartered surveyor to further inspect the property.
The surveyor’s report concluded that the work was substandard in a number of ways, including inadequate installation of a window and bi-folding door which meant they are neither watertight nor fully operable.
Finishing to the internal floor posed a significant trip hazard, the internal layout and arrangements of the shower cubicle prevent safe and adequate operation and external decking boards had been defectively installed.
Trading Standards officers then tried to contact Parker about the issues, but no response was received. An investigation was launched and officers carried out a prosecution.
Parker pleaded guilty to six charges during a hearing at Dudley Magistrates Court last year. He admitted one charge under the Fraud Act and five contrary to the Consumer Protections from Unfair Trading Regulations.
In a statement, which was read out in court during Thursday’s(30th) sentencing, the householder said: “Every morning I re-enter the nightmare from the day before. It’s so difficult to put into words how deeply this whole matter has affected me, my life, health, family and friends.
“I was sold a dream by Neil Parker and it ended up in a nightmare. I just want my house to be a home…Nothing should be more safe than your home.”
Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, City of Wolverhampton Council’s cabinet member for resident services, said: “Rogue traders have a terrible effect on homeowners – causing damage to both their properties and to their trust.
“In this case, Parker took a large amount of money from city residents and left them with a cold and substandard room.
“Fortunately, our Trading Standards officers were able to step in and support the householders and I am very pleased to see the positive outcome in the courts.
“It is very important that we continue to shine a light on cases like this to help people remain aware of such unscrupulous individuals and to let them know what they need to consider before engaging anyone to carry out work.”
City of Wolverhampton Council’s Trading Standards team advises residents to obtain three written quotes when having major building work done and only deal with recommended, reputable tradespeople who provide the appropriate credentials.
Anyone concerned about work they have had done can email trading.standards@wolverhampton.gov.uk
