Rogue traders to pay back £62k to their victims

non-payment.

Both men, whose Brighouse-based firm traded as Resinways and DriveWays, have been given three months to pay the confiscation orders and if either of them come into further assets in the future the law enables Trading Standards to recover further sums until they have fully repaid their benefit from criminal conduct.

The pair, who last year admitted charges relating to unfair trading, were involved in the following offending:

Entering into a contract with a 94-year-old-man who had a significant visual impairment and was unable to read his contract.

Entering into a contract with an 84-year-old lady with Alzheimer’s.

Telling a customer that she had to pay in full or the men would be pulled off the job when it was only half completed.

Failing to refund deposits totalling £4,400 when consumers cancelled their contracts.

Failing to honour guarantees when consumers complained of defects with their driveways.

Advertising that their drives were anti-slip when in fact the company knew that customers had fallen due to the slippiness of their drive.

The confiscation orders were granted following an investigation by West Yorkshire Trading Standards.

West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Burns-Williamson said: “I am pleased that the victims in this awful case have been compensated through the hard work of the joint investigation within West Yorkshire Trading Standards and prosecutors.

“The callous impact of targeting people for financial exploitation and crime in this way is all too clear and it’s crucial that we protect and support those that are most vulnerable in our communities.

“It’s pleasing to know that the team I have helped jointly fund and set up, The West Yorkshire Financial Exploitation and Abuse Team has contributed to protecting vulnerable people from these heartless criminals in bringing the offenders to justice.”

Linda Davis, head of the West Yorkshire Exploitation and Abuse Team, said: “Many of the victims in this case were elderly and vulnerable with a number of them losing their entire life savings as a result of this unscrupulous rogue trading.

“However, through the use of the Proceeds of Crime Act we have not only been able to recover the money lost by the victims, but have also ensured that the defendants will not financially benefit from their despicable criminal activities.”

The Financial Investigation Team at Trading Standards has been working hard throughout the investigation to retrieve compensation for the victims.

As a result of this compensation was awarded to all 17 victims in this case totalling £62,024.90.