Man Jailed For Wrexham Driveway Con

A 49 year old man has been jailed for 20 months and ordered to pay more than £14,000 in compensation and costs after conning two individuals out of substantial sums of money for unnecessary driveway work.

Shaun Beard trading as S & S Services carried out the work in Wrexham and Gloucestershire.

Wrexham Council’s Trading Standards team brought the prosecution as a result of complaints that Beard had cold called two residents in isolated areas. one who was elderly and vulnerable, and used false, misleading and exaggerated claims and pressurised these residents into having the work done.

Beard is linked to addresses in Accrington, Lancashire and Coven, Wolverhampton. Offences which date back to October and December 2010 were committed under the provisions of the Consumer Protection From Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 and the Fraud Act 2006.

When sentencing Beard at Caernarfon Crown Court Judge Mervyn Hughes said that he had carried out serious offences and that he felt that an immediate custodial sentence was appropriate, as both offences were planned, with direct threats of violence used in relation to one victim, and the deliberate targeting and intimidation of an elderly vulnerable victim.

Councillor David Griffiths, Lead Member for Health and Adult Social Care welcomed the sentence, he said: “This prosecution should send out a clear message that the council will not tolerate rogue traders conning Wrexham residents. I would like to thank our Trading Standards team for the hard work they have put into this case.”

Wrexham Trading Standards always advise never to go ahead and have work done immediately on the doorstep and never pay any money up front. You should always try to obtain a number of quotes from reputable traders before going ahead with any work. Reputable traders will always be happy to give you time to decide whether to go ahead with the work.

Remember: –

• For a purchase of £35 or more at home you must be given a written notice setting out your legal entitlement to a 7 day cooling off period. The motice must be in a set format. If you do not receive the correct motice, or you are not given a written notice at all the contract is unenforceable and you do not have to pay any money.

• If you ask a trader to leave your property and they refuse to leave this is a criminal offence. Contact the police immediately. If you see anyone acting suspiciously or if you’ve been the victim of a rogue trader then contact Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 08454 040506. If a trader becomes abusive or you feel threatened contact the police on 101.