Posted on Tuesday 9th July 2024
A rogue trader from Staffordshire has been given a five-and-a-half-year jail sentence for carrying out unfinished and unsatisfactory home refurbishments.
His accomplice was handed a 16-month jail sentence, suspended for 12 months, ordered to pay costs and carry out community work.
Richard Stubbs, a former police officer, aged 55 of High End View, Endon, and co-accused Carl Egerton, aged 54 of Basford Green, Cheddleton, were found guilty of fraudulent trading and perverting the course of justice.
At an earlier hearing, Stubbs was found guilty of taking money upfront from customers for home improvements and not completing the work. He was handed the fine-and-a-half-year jail term yesterday and both his trading companies fined – Idesign £57,827.50 and Peak Kitchens & Bathrooms £23,292.00. Stubbs was also disqualified from being a company director for 10 years.
Egerton, a builder who carried out work on behalf of Stubbs was handed the 16-month suspended prison sentence, ordered to pay £2,500 in costs and must undertake 100 hours of unpaid work.
The sentencing follows a five-year long investigation by Staffordshire County Council’s Trading Standards service.
Victoria Wilson, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Trading Standards at Staffordshire County Council said:
This has been a lengthy, complex investigation for our trading standards team and we would like to thank all the witnesses who attended court and gave evidence in the case.
Stubbs knowingly took advantage of some very vulnerable people, leaving them vastly out of pocket and so we are pleased with the outcome and sentence.
Our officers work hard to protect local communities from rogue traders so anyone thinking about behaving like this should think twice.”
During the trial, the court was told that Stubbs sold kitchens and bathrooms to consumers initially via Idesign Kitchens & Bathrooms Ltd and then subsequently by Peak Kitchens & Bathroom Ltd. Stubbs was the man behind both of those businesses.
In one case a victim paid more than £100,000 for unsatisfactory and unfinished work.