Legal News
Rogue trader jailed and handed ASBO (10 February 2014)
Date: 10/02/2014
A rogue trader from Lowestoft has been jailed and given an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) after he used his building and gardening company to con numerous victims out of thousands of pounds over a two-year period.
52-year-old Andrew Jay arranged to carry out work, including loft conversions and driveways, in a range of residential properties in the Suffolk area operating as 'Manor Farm Works'. His victims were consistently duped out of large sums of cash after he failed to turn up to complete the plans.
In addition, Jay returned to the properties to ask for more money and turned to threatening behaviour if they refused. In total, ten customers paid Jay in excess of £50,000 between February 2010 and August 2012. He was finally caught out by police and trading standards after complaints from members of the public.
Detective Constable Debbie Johnston said: “Jay put pressure on his customers to pay up front and continue to pay when work was not progressing. Those who stood up to Jay were threatened and many felt so intimidated or were desperate to have the work done that they felt they had no choice but to pay.” Jay has now been jailed for twenty-eight months and handed a five-year ASBO, which will limit his future trading plans.
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