A DUDLEY builder who took thousands of pounds from customers then failed to finish work on their homes has been ordered to pay £10,000 in compensation and costs.

Adrian Jones, of Pensnett, was found guilty of three offences under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations following a week-long trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

Jones failed to provide the required paperwork, including information about statutory rights, to three separate customers in Sandwell in May and June 2017. In all three cases Jones took payment amounting to thousands of pounds and failed to complete the work.

Sandwell Council's Trading Standards team launched an investigation into Jones in July 2017, after received complaints from three women.

Officers found that Jones had taken money for plastering, the replacement of kitchens and windows, and, in one case, the completion of a large extension. In all three cases Jones had failed to finish work as promised and left the householders distressed and out of pocket.

The investigation also discovered that Jones had previously been convicted by Dudley Trading Standards under similar circumstances.

Jones was sentenced to a 12-month community order of 150 hours unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay £5,160 in compensation to his victims and £4,840 in prosecution costs within six months, at Wolverhampton Crown Court on July 17.

Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for Living Healthy Lives, Councillor Farut Shaeen, said: “Rogue traders cause untold distress to their victims and make it more difficult for genuine tradespeople to operate. This prosecution sends out a message that we will not tolerate this behaviour in Sandwell.”

Anyone who believes they may have been a victim of a Rogue Trader should report this to Citizens Advice consumer services on 03454 040506.