Conman ordered to pay out £2,130

A WARRINGTON man, who conned two elderly residents out of hundreds of pounds for home repairs, has given a six month suspended prison sentence
Alan Reid, of Watkin Street, pleaded guilty at North Cheshire Magistrates Court to two offences of engaging in a misleading commercial practice.
The prison sentence was suspended for two years and the defendant was
ordered to pay a total of £2,130 to compensate his victims and cover court costs.
The court heard Warrington Borough Council’s trading standards team took action against Reid after receiving complaints from an 81-year-old woman and an 83-year-old man about fraudulent home repair work carried out on their properties in 2014.
Initially offering to carry out minor works to clean gutters and remove moss at the two addresses, Reid then claimed that bigger roof tiling jobs were needed. He rushed the complainants into agreeing to the work, failing to inform them of their right to cancel the agreement with him.
The elderly woman, who was in poor health and had mobility difficulties, racked up a total bill of £540 with the defendant, while the man was charged £300 for the work.
A compensation order for the full cost of the works was made in favour of both complainants. Mr Reid was also ordered to pay £1,290 towards prosecution costs.
The Recorder said that he made the order “as the council tax payers of Warrington shouldn’t have to pay it.”
The total amount of £2,130 was ordered to be paid at a rate of £20 per week, the first payment to be made within 28 days.
Cllr Judith Guthrie, the council’s lead member for public protection, said: “This sentencing is the latest success story for our trading standards team, who carry out a huge amount of important work to protect some of our most vulnerable residents.
“If you feel you have been cheated by a trader, defrauded of money, misled or pressured into paying for services you do not want – it’s vital you report it to us. We will always take action against traders who break the law, but it’s really important that you let us know.”
Reid told the court he had not committed similar offences and said he had entered guilty pleas at an early stage.
But the Recorder said he had target elderly people he was able to bully and should be ashamed.
“You deserve to be sent to prison. What saves you is that the offences are two years old and your guilty plea.”