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OFT wins court action against rogue roofer

182/05    28 September 2005

A rogue roofer who ripped off consumers in Merton, Kingston upon Thames and other areas in Surrey was found to be in contempt of a court Order, ordered to pay costs, and sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for three years.

James Slater, known as Jimmy, was found guilty of breaching a court Order made against him in 2001 which in effect had banned him from taking advance payment for roofing work and providing little or no service in return.

Last year the OFT and local trading standards services received several complaints about Mr Slater who had traded at various times as All Round Plastics, Global Plastics, Property Maintenance, Home Tech Specialists and Traditional Plastics. Mr Slater had approached the complainants with offers to provide roofing and guttering services in return for advance cash payment.  In most cases, following receipt of payment little or no work was carried out by Mr Slater.

The OFT, with the support and assistance of local trading standards services, took action against Mr Slater to stop this behaviour.

The court's decision means that if Mr Slater breaches the 2001 Order at any time in the next three years, he will immediately be committed to prison for six months and receive any additional sentence or punishment which might be appropriate.

Christine Wade, OFT's Director of Consumer Regulation Enforcement, said:

'The OFT and trading standards have worked very hard together to protect consumers from Mr Slater. It is not acceptable for traders to accept cash for work which they then fail to carry out and we will not hesitate to take action where necessary to protect consumers and other traders in the same sector who are also adversely affected'.

NOTES

1. The case against Mr Slater was heard at Kingston County Court on Wednesday 21 September 2005. He was found guilty of breaching an Order, received a six month sentence, suspended for three years and ordered to pay costs. Mr Slater paid £4,400 to be applied in compensation to consumers affected by his breach of the Order.

2. The OFT first sought assurances from Mr Slater that he would desist from certain activities in June 1999 under Part III of the Fair Trading Act 1973. Mr Slater refused to sign up to these undertakings. On 15 March 2000 the OFT applied to Kingston County Court for an Order under section 37 of the Fair Trading Act 1973.  This Order was made on 2 March 2001 and served on Mr Slater on 14 April 2001.

3. The Trading Standards Services of Merton, Kingston-upon-Thames, and Surrey were instrumental in securing effective enforcement action against Mr Slater.

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