A builder from Gloucester has been given a suspended sentence after causing three residents in Bath and North East Somerset to lose £54,000.
The Guildhall in Bath
Thomas Harris, 31, of Quedgeley in Gloucester, who traded as HCG Building Contractors Ltd, was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on 30th January 2025 following an investigation by Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Trading Standards Team.
Harris pleaded guilty to two offences of contravening the requirements of professional diligence under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.
The court heard that Harris failed to carry out work with reasonable care and skill and failed to communicate with consumers about timescales.
On each occasion, the work carried out for the three victims was of poor quality, and unfinished. There was a pattern of starting jobs, leaving homes with poor quality work, and then refusing to come back to continue with the projects without further payment from the victims.
Harris was given a 12-month suspended prison sentence and must carry out 180 hours community service.
He has been ordered by the court to repay the three victims £14,400 in total.
Councillor Tim Ball, cabinet member for neighbourhood services at Bath & North East Somerset Council, said: “I hope the sentence sends a clear message that we will look to take action when innocent homeowners’ hard-earned money is lost to unscrupulous builders.”
The local authority runs an approved trader scheme called ‘Buy with Confidence’ where residents can search for local businesses which have been vetted and approved by Trading Standards.
Anyone looking for a local business to carry out some work is encouraged to visit the Buy With Confidence website.
Anyone who thinks they might have fallen victim to a rogue trader, should report it to the Citizens Advice Consumer Service who work in partnership with Bath & North East Somerset Trading Standards. To find out more, call 0345 40 40 506.
