A businessman ripped off customers by falsely telling them they would get a government grant or discount for external wall insulation at their properties.
Alan Pearson, who lived in Newport before moving to the West Midlands, was successfully prosecuted by Newport City Council following an investigation by trading standards supported by National Trading Standards.
He pleaded not guilty to four offences of fraud but was found guilty following a trial earlier this year at Merthyr Crown Court.
In Cardiff Crown Court today, Pearson, aged 65, was sentenced to two years imprisonment suspended for 2 years. He was also fined £2000 and ordered to pay a £1,000 contribution towards the prosecution costs.
He told customers, some of whom were elderly, that they would get external wall insulation at a discounted price because of funding from the government.
The price customers were being quoted before signing up was supposedly a “discounted price”. There was pressure selling, telling customers that they needed to act fast. That funding was limited and was allocated on a “first come first served” basis.
This was not true and there was no government funding for some customers.
A complaint to Newport City Council prompted an investigation by both the Wales Trading Standards regional investigation team and the council’s trading standards team, uncovering offences involving victims in Chepstow, Bristol, Lydney, and Stourport-on-Severn.
Councillor Mark Spencer, the council’s cabinet member with responsibility for trading standards, said: “I would like to commend officers for their thorough investigation and hard work which led to the successful prosecution and sentencing.
“This is a despicable crime, particularly when the victims are vulnerable. I hope this case sends a strong message to other rogue traders that such behaviour will not be tolerated.”
Lord Michael Bichard, Chair of National Trading Standards, said: “National Trading Standards will continue to support local teams across the country in rooting out criminals who exploit consumers and damage the reputation of legitimate businesses. I commend the National Trading Standards regional investigation team (Wales) and the trading standards officers based in Newport for this successful prosecution.”
Notes to Editors
About National Trading Standards
National Trading Standards delivers national and regional consumer protection enforcement. Its Board is made up of senior and experienced heads of local government trading standards from around England and Wales with an independent Chair.