15/05/2013
Builder Guilty Of Fraud And Theft
A local builder has been found guilty of defrauding clients by taking money for materials he never produced and for work which was never completed.
James Gordon, from Killyleagh in County Down, was found guilty at Belfast Magistrates’ Court today.
He also pleaded guilty to a failure to complete work to the professional standards "which could reasonably expected of a builder".
In a case brought by the Trading Standards Service of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Mr Gordon was found guilty in respect of charges of fraud and theft.
In one case, Mr Gordon obtained £3,700 from a householder to buy wood and steel for a loft conversion, but the materials were never purchased.
In a similar case, Mr Gordon received £3,050 for building materials which he never actually purchased. In neither case did the client get their money back.
A further case showed the defendant had conducted business "in an unprofessional manner". He had failed to complete a loft conversion to the price, standard and timescale agreed with the client.
Mr Gordon had quoted July 2011 as a completion date for the loft conversion, yet the job was still incomplete when he last called to the property in June 2012.
Sentencing was adjourned until a later date.
Kevin McNamara of the Trading Standards Service said: "These cases point to a calculated approach by Mr Gordon to his clients. He obtained as much money as he could up front and then made broken promises of completion dates."
Trading Standards Service advises any potential customers to get a number of quotes for any building work, to ask to speak to previous clients and not to pay out large sums in advance of any work being carried out.
(IT/CD)
James Gordon, from Killyleagh in County Down, was found guilty at Belfast Magistrates’ Court today.
He also pleaded guilty to a failure to complete work to the professional standards "which could reasonably expected of a builder".
In a case brought by the Trading Standards Service of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Mr Gordon was found guilty in respect of charges of fraud and theft.
In one case, Mr Gordon obtained £3,700 from a householder to buy wood and steel for a loft conversion, but the materials were never purchased.
In a similar case, Mr Gordon received £3,050 for building materials which he never actually purchased. In neither case did the client get their money back.
A further case showed the defendant had conducted business "in an unprofessional manner". He had failed to complete a loft conversion to the price, standard and timescale agreed with the client.
Mr Gordon had quoted July 2011 as a completion date for the loft conversion, yet the job was still incomplete when he last called to the property in June 2012.
Sentencing was adjourned until a later date.
Kevin McNamara of the Trading Standards Service said: "These cases point to a calculated approach by Mr Gordon to his clients. He obtained as much money as he could up front and then made broken promises of completion dates."
Trading Standards Service advises any potential customers to get a number of quotes for any building work, to ask to speak to previous clients and not to pay out large sums in advance of any work being carried out.
(IT/CD)
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