Shoddy workman charged thousands
Conman jailed after years of cheating customers
A conman who intimidated people across Kent into paying for shoddy work has been ordered to pay more than £130,000.
Owen Saunders was jailed for 12 months last June after conning four people out of £28,500 for work which estimated to cost just £271.
KCC Trading Standards continued to investigate the 32-yearold, contacting more than 50 of his customers – and 12 more victims came forward.
Trading Standards’ Complex Investigations Team produced evidence which, in some cases, related to offending as far back as 2008.
Victims from Bearsted, Coxheath, Paddock Wood, Sevenoaks, Broadstairs and Whitstable, provided evidence of aggressive trading, shoddy workmanship and misleading actions by Saunders, trading as Upchurch-based Berkeley Driveways.
On Monday, Canterbury Crown Court ruled Saunders, of London Road, Wrotham, has 14 days to pay his victims £68,330 and KCC £63,036 in costs or face 21 months in prison.
Clive Phillips, Trading Standards operations manager, said it was one of the worst cases the department had ever seen: “Saunders used aggressive tactics to get work and then ignored customers’ rights by increasing charges partway through a contract, restricting customers’ rights to cancel, and carrying out poor workmanship, while charging far more than the work warranted.”
Mr Phillips advised residents to seek three quotes and not to sign contracts until ready.
He added: “The end of a successful prosecution doesn’t necessarily mark the end of our investigation.
“Where we can show that criminals have financially benefited from their crimes our investigators will track down assets and present their findings to the Court.
“The Proceeds of Crime Act gives courts powers to make compensation and confiscation orders and we will ensure we use this legislation to the full effect where criminals target the residents of Kent.”
For a list of companies approved by KCC visit checkatrade.com or call 0333 0146 190.