A County Antrim plumber who was paid £11,780 by a consumer to supply and install a heat pump to their property but failed to carry out the work was today handed a two year conditional discharge at Newry Crown Court. He was also ordered to pay £11,780 in compensation.
In a case brought by the Trading Standards Service (TSS), Mr Derek Dawson (53) of Ashcroft Way, Lower Ballinderry, Co. Antrim pleaded guilty to one charge under the Fraud Act 2006.
Mr Dawson initially visited the victim’s home to deal with a problem with the immersion heater. During his visit there was some discussion about the heating system, after which it was agreed that Mr Dawson would fit an air source heat pump to reduce the cost of heating the house. Mr Dawson informed the consumer that it would cost £11,780 to complete the work and asked for the full payment which he received by bank transfer.
However, over the next few months there followed a catalogue of delays and postponements by Mr Dawson. Eventually, some four months later, Mr Dawson effectively cancelled the job and promised to provide the consumer with a full refund. However, the refund never materialised and the complainant contacted Trading Standards.
“This was a clear case of fraud where the trader took a substantial sum of money up front and failed to carry out any work or provide any materials,” says Kevin McNamara of Trading Standards Service. “Mr Dawson had fraudulently obtained the sum of £11,780 for doing no work.
“Trading Standards Service will continue to seek to protect consumers in NI by raising awareness of the activities of fraudulent traders, supporting consumers when targeted by these types of traders and investigating these traders to ensure that appropriate action is taken against them.”
