Rogue trader jailed for two years

A ROGUE trader who conned people from Warrington and across the North West out of thousands of pounds has been jailed for two years.
Sentencing him, Judge Stephen Everett described his as “disgusting.”
Christopher James Morris, 39, claimed to be donating to charity, carried out sub-standard work, lied about the quality of his materials and failed to give cancellation rights which his customers were entitled to.
Morris, from West Kirby, pleaded guilty to 11 offences investigated by Warrington Trading Standards officers under The Consumer Protection Unfair Trading Regulations in relation to misleading actions, misleading omissions, and breaches of professional diligence in relation to failing to return deposits and honour request to cancel contracts.
He also pleaded guilty to 24 offences on behalf of Eo Shield Energy Solutions, a company of which he was owner, director and sole shareholder.
Malcolm Hope, prosecuting on behalf of Warrington and Wirral borough councils, said: “This is a case where, at best, profit was put before professionalism and, at worst, there was a deliberate and persistent exploitation of trusting consumers.”
The court was told Morris carried out substandard painting work, lied about the quality of his materials in promotional materials and on his website, refused to return deposits, failed to give cancellation rights which in law consumers were entitled to and falsely claimed to be donating money to Claire House children’s hospice.
The company traded as a painting service, marketing themselves as using a paint product with properties it did not have.
One of his victims, a woman in her 80s  from Great Sankey said: “This experience at my age has been very stressful, making me very wary of engaging contractors to undertake any work on my property.”
Judge Everett told the defendant: “This was a dishonest operation from beginning to end. It was a con trick and you didn’t give two hoots about the victims. You and your employees targeted those who you believed were vulnerable. I have no doubt you knew what was going on.”
He said the claims in respect of Claire House on the company flyers was “despicable” telling Morris that: “People buying your product believed you were donating to the charity. You may well hang your head! This was as disgusting an operation as I have seen in a long, long time.”
Morris was sentenced to two years in jail with one of those to be served on licence. He was disqualified from being a company director for five years and paid £100 victim surcharge.
After the hearing, Cllr Judith Guthrie, Warrington  Council’s lead member for public protection, said: ”Once again this shows the sterling work being done by our trading standards officers and the joint operation with colleagues from Wirral Borough Council shows what can be achieved with cooperation between agencies. This man deliberately conned Warrington people and is quite rightly facing a jail sentence.”