Warwickshire Trading Standards Service strives to protect the most vulnerable in our community. Indeed, Trading Standards Officers were so concerned with this case that they took the unusual step of recording the victim’s testimony due to her failing health.
Warwickshire County Councillor Richard Hobbs, Portfolio Holder for Community Protection
On the 24th March 2010, at Rugby Magistrates Court Edwin Jones trading as E & J Property Maintenance of Walter Scott Road Bedworth was ordered to pay nearly £5000 in fines and costs in a prosecution brought by Warwickshire Trading Standards Service.
Jones pleaded guilty to 2 counts of making misleading statements regarding work necessary to the roof of a property and one count of failing to give cancellation rights.
The court heard that the case was investigated following the immediate attendance of Trading Standards Officers to a smartly presented bungalow in South Warwickshire after a watchful resident reported her concerns that her next door neighbour was being misled by an unscrupulous trader about work required to the roof of her property.
Investigations revealed that the trader, Edwin Jones, had cold called at the property and obtained work jet washing, sanding, and sealing the drive and patio for the sum of £480 cash.
Edwin Jones had not provided written cancellation rights as required by law and had begun the work immediately. This was despite being advised of this requirement by Officers of Warwickshire Trading Standards Service in person, by phone and in writing following two separate incidents in the preceding 6 months.
During the course of engaging Edwin Jones to undertake this work the occupant of the bungalow revealed to him that she was terminally ill with cancer and did not know how long she had left to live.
Following the completion of the original work at the property Edwin Jones informed the householder, after a cursory inspection, that the roof felt on the property was rotten, that the soffits bowed downwards, that this had been caused by rainwater getting in and if it was not rectified within the next twelve months it would cause serious damage to the property.
He also stated that the gable end of the bungalow required re-pointing. Expert evidence tendered on behalf of Trading Standards by a Chartered Building Surveyor confirmed that there was no evidence that such work was required.
Due to the poor health of the householder in this case, Warwickshire Trading Standards Service sought the assistance of Warwickshire Police to interview the witness using special measures to video record her testimony to ensure her evidence could be made available to the court .
Warwickshire County Councillor Richard Hobbs, Portfolio Holder for Community Protection said “Warwickshire Trading Standards Service strives to protect the most vulnerable in our community. Indeed, Trading Standards Officers were so concerned with this case that they took the unusual step of recording the victim’s testimony due to her failing health.
"I commend their approach in pursuing the case against this rogue trader. This prosecution sends out a strong message to traders who take advantage of the vulnerable, Trading Standards will take action against you."