A Rogue Trader who lied about having bi-fold doors for sale has pleaded guilty to a fraud charge following a prosecution brought by Bath & North East Somerset Council.
Bath Magistrates’ Court convicted Mr Craig Graydon, 45 of Stonham Avenue, Bath trading as C L Graydon Building Contractors Ltd, of one count of fraud by false representation under the Fraud Act 2006.
The court heard that Mr Graydon placed an advert on a website offering bi-fold doors for sale for £800 in April 2014.
Following a visit to their home by Mr Graydon the customers paid Mr Graydon a deposit of £400 for the doors which were to be used for an extension to a summer house.
Mr Graydon promised delivery of the doors to the customers and for a number of months gave various excuses as to why the doors could not be delivered.
In the meantime the customers’ summer house was built, but it remained without doors for around 6 months.
The reality was that Mr Graydon never actually had the doors in his possession and never intended to purchase the doors for the consumers.
Mr Graydon claimed to have an account with a local door supplier, however when Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Trading Standards team contacted the supplier, they had never heard of Mr Graydon.
They also advised that a bi-fold door of the size advertised by Mr Graydon, could not be purchased for under £2,000.
Mr Graydon pleaded guilty on 29th January 2016 at Bath Magistrates’ court to a charge of fraud by false representation.
Mr Graydon was sentenced to a 12 month community order, 20 days Rehabilitation Activity Requirement, £1,250 prosecution costs, £60 Victim Surcharge and was ordered by the court to pay the customers £700 in compensation.
Speaking after the hearing, Cllr Martin Veal (Conservative, Bathavon North), Cabinet Member for Community Services, said: “This is an unfortunate example of how people can fall victim to the unscrupulous actions of rogue traders.
“Bath & North East Somerset Council will not tolerate such behaviour and will use the full force of the law against illegal operators.
“We also urge residents to protect themselves against fraudsters by using our ‘Buy with Confidence’ approved trader directory, updated regularly, contains details of local businesses that have all been audited by our Trading Standards team.”
The Buy With Confidence directory is available free of charge to callers to Bath & North East Somerset Council’s One Stop Shop in Manvers Street, Bath; the Hollies, Midsomer Norton or the One Stop Shop in Keynsham.
It is also available online at www.bathnes.gov.uk/BuyWithConfidence or by calling 01225 396759.