• Business
  • Community
  • Crime
  • Education
  • Health
  • Politics
  • What’s On
  • Travel
  • Weather
  • Sport
Bath Echo
  • Tuesday 8th July 2025
  • Subscribe
  • Opinion
  • Reviews
  • Letters
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Latest Issue
  • Jobs
  • Awards
Bath Echo

Bath, GB

  • Business
  • Community
  • Crime
  • Education
  • Health
  • Politics
  • What’s On
  • Travel
  • Weather
  • Sport
Home
News Headlines
Crime

Company director given suspended sentence for aggressive practices

Monday 16th September 2019 Bath Echo News Team Crime, Politics

Share
Tweet
WhatsApp
Pin
Share

The director of a company that dug up the driveway of a vulnerable Bath resident without permission and charged more than £12,000 has been given a suspended sentence.

Johnny Rooney was found guilty of failing to prevent his staff from carrying out aggressive commercial practices.

Rooney, aged 32, of Drivescape Limited, Semington, Wiltshire, appeared at Bristol Crown Court on 6th September where he was found guilty of an offence under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.

Rooney was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment suspended for two years, 120 hours community service and has been banned from ‘On Licence’ premises for 12 months.

During a trial at Bristol Crown Court earlier in June this year, the court heard from Bath & North East Somerset Trading Standards officers that Rooney failed to stop his employees from digging up a driveway in Bath without permission.

The resident, a lone disabled woman who had said no to any work being carried out, told the court how she was followed and pressured by the company.

The following day she arrived home and found several Drivescape Ltd staff digging up her driveway.

The resident said she felt violated and intimidated by this and was pressured to pay the company £12,300 for completing the block pave driveway and other work.

Drivescape Ltd failed to provide the consumer with a written contract and written cancellation notice detailing the consumer’s right to a 14 day cooling-off period.

Further to the sentencing, Rooney is due to appear in court in relation to a Proceeds of Crime hearing in January 2020.

Councillor Paul Crossley, cabinet member for Community Services, said: “We take offences where elderly or vulnerable people have been victims of unfair trading extremely seriously.

“They are a priority to our Trading Standards team and the sentencing of Mr Rooney illustrates that the courts will also take a tough line.

“Our team 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.

“We would always encourage anyone looking for a local business to carry out some work for them to visit www.buywithconfidence.gov. uk.”

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 on 0345 40 40 506.

Before agreeing to any work, local residents should:

  • Read reviews of traders and if possible use the Buy with Confidence Approved Trader Scheme.
  • Ask at least three approved traders for quotes.
  • Never pay upfront and avoid cash.
  • Say no to doorstep sellers.
  • Always get a detailed written quotation/contract.
  • Check the builder’s references and even pay visits to the references.
  • Ask their neighbours, family or friends for personal recommendations of builders who have worked for them and carried out a good job.
Share
Tweet
WhatsApp
Pin
Share
Next article "Imperfect" clean air zone only the start of measures to improve Bath
Previous article £100k investment in hospital kitchens helps reduce waste and energy use

Related Stories

Local man is spared jail after admitting to strangling his partner
Monday 7th July 2025

Local man is spared jail after admitting to strangling his partner

Midsomer Norton glazing firm wins permission to expand factory
Monday 7th July 2025

Midsomer Norton glazing firm wins permission to expand factory

Woman jailed for racial assaults and list of shoplifting offences
Monday 7th July 2025

Woman jailed for racial assaults and list of shoplifting offences

...
Followers
Follow
...
Followers
Follow
...
Followers
Follow

Top Stories

Popular six-day Keynsham Music Festival draws to a close

Popular six-day Keynsham Music Festival draws to a close

Monday 7th July 2025
Larkhall hit five after early scare against Shepton Mallet

Larkhall hit five after early scare against Shepton Mallet

Monday 7th July 2025
Local man is spared jail after admitting to strangling his partner

Local man is spared jail after admitting to strangling his partner

Monday 7th July 2025
Midsomer Norton glazing firm wins permission to expand factory

Midsomer Norton glazing firm wins permission to expand factory

Monday 7th July 2025
Woman jailed for racial assaults and list of shoplifting offences

Woman jailed for racial assaults and list of shoplifting offences

Monday 7th July 2025
  • Business
  • Community
  • Crime
  • Education
  • Health
  • Politics
  • What’s On
  • Travel
  • Weather
  • Sport
  • Back to top
Created by Media Bath - Regulated by IMPRESS

About the Bath Echo | Your City, Your News

We're your local independent newspaper covering news and events across beautiful Bath and the close surrounding villages. We're here to help keep Bathonians in the know about what's going on in their city.

Useful Info

  • House Rules
  • Cookie Policy
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Complaints Policy
  • Social Media Policy
© Bath Echo 2025. All rights reserved.
Produced by Media Bath Limited