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Suspended sentences for directors of building companies which supplied inadequate work (3 March 2017)

Date: 03/03/2017
Duncan Lewis, Crime Solicitors, Suspended sentences for directors of building companies which supplied inadequate work

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council has prosecuted two builders who supplied inadequate work to customers.

The directors of the two Stockton borough-based building companies were sentenced at Teesside Crown Court.

Jonathan Wilkie Jones, 33, Eaglescliffe – sole director of JBS Driveways Ltd in Billingham – was handed a 21-month prison sentence, with a supervision order on release.

Rebecca Dack, 34, Billingham – sole director of JBS Home Improvements Ltd, also based in Billingham before it was dissolved – was given a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, with a Rehabilitation Activity Order.

At an earlier hearing on in January, Jonathan Jones pleaded guilty to five counts of fraud by false representation, two counts of money laundering and 23 counts of breaching the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.

Rebecca Dack pleaded guilty to ten counts of breaching the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.

In mitigation, Jones’ defence presented positive character references and said that he had completed work that customers were satisfied with.

The defence for Dack said that she was neglectful rather than dishonest and that she was not aware of Jones’ history with Trading Standards and had distanced herself from his business when it became clear the work was not to standard.

The court heard how the two businesses worked in partnership between August 2014 and October 2015 during this time, the pair failed to adequately complete building work at multiple addresses across the northeast and made misleading statements to customers.

These included information which stated that customers were not entitled to cancel the contract without a penalty, as well as requesting payment to order materials which were not ordered or supplied.

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Access, Communities and Community Safety, Councillor Steve Nelson, said:

“Mr Jones and Ms Dack have behaved recklessly and unacceptably – their actions have caused upset and angst for many people living across the region, so I’m pleased the court has acknowledged this and the sentences reflect the severity of their actions.The council’s Trading Standard’s team investigates reports of sub-standard work – and I hope this case will highlight that all traders must take their legal obligations seriously.”

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