Window fitter Ajay Rattu who jointly ran Nuneaton based Coldsealed Windows has had his sentence appeal dismissed. Warwickshire County Council Trading Standards investigated and subsequently prosecu...
Window fitter Ajay Rattu who jointly ran Nuneaton based Coldsealed Windows has had his sentence appeal dismissed. Warwickshire County Council Trading Standards investigated and subsequently prosecuted the pair after receiving complaints from consumers.
On Friday 5th June 2020 the Court of Appeal considered Mr Rattu’s sentence of two years and four months imprisonment for fraudulent trading and dismissed it.
Mr Rattu (together with his business partner) cold called Warwickshire residents offering new or replacement windows, patio doors or other building work. They took large deposits, sometimes several thousand pounds, after which little or no work was done. When consumers asked for their deposits back no refunds were paid. Ten victims lost nearly £15,000.
One victim agreed to employ Mr Rattu and his partner to carry out a £25,000 extension to his home and paid them £5000 up front for a roof. However, no roof was ever supplied. The pair later asked for another £2500 before work could start. The money was paid, and a small amount of work was carried out in the victim’s garden, but this quickly tailed off.
At his original trial Ajay Rattu (age 40 of Sanders Road Coventry CV6 6DH) pleaded guilty to one offence of fraudulent trading under section 9(1) of the Fraud Act 2006. Earlier this year HHJ Potter sentenced Mr Rattu to two years and four months imprisonment and disqualified him from being a company director for 10 years.
In his sentencing remarks, HH Judge Potter stated that Rattu and his business partner had undertaken a particularly cynical piece of offending. He said that they did not feel remorse but dismay at being caught and had neither the guts nor courage to face up to what they had done.
Warwickshire County Councillor Andy Crump, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety said:
“Protecting consumers from fraud and in particular our most elderly and vulnerable residents is a key priority for our Trading Standards Service."
"Taking action against fraudsters both protects consumers and supports our business community."
More information about Warwickshire Trading Standards can be found on the Warwickshire Website: https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/tradingstandards