A ROGUE trader who carried out “sub-standard” work and failed to finish a job for a Wordsley resident has landed a court bill of more than £4,000.

Carl Roberts, of Ireton Road, Wolverhampton, who traded as Regency Drives, pleaded guilty at Dudley Magistrates Court on February 11 to two offences under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 and an offence under the Fraud Act 2006 of participating in a fraudulent business.

The court heard that Roberts had quoted £3,600 to lay a new drive at a house in Wordsley in December 2014, but after being paid £2,600 by the customer only turned up once to start the job and left after laying the hardcore and drains and never returned to complete the job.

The customer eventually had to have the whole job re-done by another contractor.

Roberts admitted the offence as well as misleading people by claiming he had recently carried out work for Sandwell Council, whose logo he used on his advertisement.

The court imposed a 12 month conditional discharge on Roberts and ordered him to pay £2,600 compensation to the customer and £2,000 costs to Dudley Council.

Councillor Rachel Harris, cabinet member responsible for health, said: “This prosecution sends out a clear message that we will protect people from the activity of rogue traders who flout the law and carry out sub-standard work.

“This kind of activity causes a huge amount of distress to the victims who have worked hard and saved to pay for improvements to their home and are then badly let down.”

Dudley Trading Standards, in partnership with Age UK, has a list of local approved traders who provide services of a high standard at a fair cost.

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