Rogue trader sent to prison for fraud

Richards claimed the delays were due to his wife’s death, which was disproved when officers spoke to her during their inquiries

Trading Standards bosses in Cornwall have warned they "will take action” after a rogue trader who left customers £90,000 out of pocket was sent to prison.

Leonard Jesse James Richards, of Whitemoor, St Austell, was given a 16-month prison sentence on Friday after pleading guilty to three counts of fraud.

The case related to building works he was employed to carry out at four different properties across the county, Cornwall Council's Trading Standards team said.

At Truro Crown Court, Recorder Simon Levene told Richards: “It is immensely distressing and disturbing for the victims, bearing in mind what you put them through.”

Residents 'pressured'

In one case, Richards, 24, carried out work on a holiday home conversion and, in the words of the homeowner, “created a scene of devastation”, the council said.

The court heard he removed load-bearing walls without adequate support for the roof and he left electrics in a dangerous state.

The work was originally quoted as costing a maximum of £10,000 but ended up costing more than £17,000.

At another property, the homeowners wanted their roof cleaned, gutters cleared, and the roof of their garden room repaired, Trading Standards said.

They said Richards pressured the residents to agree to replacing the roof.

The court heard he encouraged quick payment of £3,800 and created a fake invoice for roof trusses from a fictional timber frame company as false reassurance that the materials had been were ordered.

Richards then failed to progress the work and rain caused water damage due to the larger holes that he made when he smashed down the original tiles.

When chased about his lack of progress, Richards claimed the delays were due to his wife’s death.

This was disproved when officers spoke to his wife as part of their enquiries.

Martyn Alvey, Cornwall Council, cabinet member with responsibility for Public Protection said those affected were "put through an awful lot of stress due to this man’s actions".

He added: "Where traders fail to carry out work they have been paid to do to the required standard, we will take action.”

The homeowner said Richards “created a scene of devastation”

Sentencing at Truro Crown Court, Recorder Simon Levene told Richards: “The victims forked out a lot of money to you, some for work that was not necessary and in addition it cost them to then rectify the works.

“The total paid out to you by them was approximately £45,000 and the cost to them overall was £90,000. That is £90,000 lost to them.

“The effect of what you did to them will be very long lasting. It is immensely distressing and disturbing for the victims, bearing in mind what you put them through.”