A ROGUE builder who laid poor quality patios and became aggressive with customers has been handed an eight month suspended prison sentence.
John O’Connor will have to pay his victims a total of £5000 in compensation as well as legal fees of £8,788 following his sentencing at Truro Crown Court on September 1.
The court heard how O’Connor, 34, from Sutton Benger, Chippenham in Wiltshire, used false addresses to give the impression his business was based at Saltash or Plymouth.
He cold called properties in Looe, Liskeard and Torpoint, persuading home owners to have driveways repaired or replaced or garden patios laid, then charging an excessive price and exaggerating the amount of work that he would undertake.
O’Conner, who traded under the name Civil Construction Ltd, also failed to give home owners any cooling-off period, or any of the legally required information about the work he was offering to do. But the driveways and patios he laid were of such poor quality that many have had to be rectified since. And when any of his customers questioned the quality of his work he became hostile and aggressive, said Cornwall Council’s Trading Standards department.
Leanne McLean, Trading Standards lead officer for Doorstep Crime explained: “Between November 2016 and the Spring of 2017 O’Connor travelled to Cornwall and called at properties without any prior appointment.
“In all cases the customers were unhappy with the quality of the work done. When they queried this or tried to withhold part payment until the work was rectified O’Connor became menacing and aggressive. In at least one instance, O’Connor returned to the property with another male and tried to persuade the home owner to have repairs done to the roof. Again, when the customer refused O’Connor became hostile.
“When Trading Standards was called in to investigate a spate of complaints against him and his company, O’Connor went to ground and refused to be interviewed or cooperate in any way with the investigation.
“ This fraudulent intent has now been reflected in the sentence imposed by the Court.”
Rob Nolan, Cornwall Council Portfolio Holder for Environment and Public Protection, said: “The circumstances of this criminal prosecution illustrate too clearly the dangers of agreeing to buy any goods or services from someone who turns up at the front door uninvited. Our Trading Standards Officers continue to work in partnership with Devon and Cornwall Police to tackle those who use unfair and misleading business practices to target our local communities.
“Our advice is clear – never deal with any tradesman who knocks at your door without a previous appointment.”