Rogue trader fleeced disabled homeowner of £23,000

Neil Park failed to complete jobs like leaving an exposed drain cover and unfinished floors

A rogue trader in Wolverhampton has left a disabled homeowner £23,300 out of pocket after doing jobs poorly and failing to finish jobs at all.

Neil Parker, trading as P&B Garden Buildings, was sentenced to 20 months in prison, suspended for two years, at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Thursday.

He had previously admitted charges under the Fraud Act and the Consumer Protections from Unfair Trading Regulations.

In a statement, the homeowner said: "I was sold a dream by Neil Parker and it ended up in a nightmare."

Thermostat on radiator installed horizontally instead of vertically

"I just want my house to be a home...nothing should be more safe than your home," they added.

The homeowner had wanted a bedroom with a shower room at the property in Bilston, to avoid having to go upstairs.

Parker of Wednesfield was paid a total of £23,300 over a number of months. But he, and those he employed, carried out poor work and did not complete the job.

Despite requests, Parker did not rectify the work.

Aside from £226 for vinyl flooring, nothing of the £23,300 has been refunded. He also did not provide adequate documentation including contract paperwork and a 10-year guarantee.

'Sleep in woolly hats'

The work Parker did, left the house cold, with the homeowner saying they had put the heating on constantly and often sleep in woolly hats.

Parker's work also left the floor uneven, causing it to be a trip hazard.

"It's so difficult to put into words how deeply this whole matter has affected me, my life, health, family and friends," the homeowner said.

Parker was also told to carry out probation work and ordered to pay his victim compensation of £2,000.

Parker left the resident with bumpy, uneven floors

Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, City of Wolverhampton Council's cabinet member for resident services, said: "Rogue traders have a terrible effect on homeowners – causing damage to both their properties and to their trust."

The council's Trading Standards team advises residents to obtain three written quotes when having major building work done and only deal with recommended, reputable tradespeople who provide the appropriate credentials.