Fraudster's firm conned vulnerable residents out of £1.5m

Robin MacDonald's company told people that fitting solar panels and heat pumps would save money, and work would be funded by the government

A fraudster whose firm promised energy savings and home security through its products and services conned residents out of £1.5m, a council said.

Robin MacDonald's firm told householders fitting solar panels and heat pumps would save money, and work would be funded by the government.

But systems were often fitted badly and did not deliver the savings promised.

At Nottingham Crown Court, MacDonald was found guilty of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation.

The 45-year-old was also convicted of charges of fraudulent trading on Wednesday.

The trial followed an investigation, led by the National Trading Standards Regional Investigations Team in the East Midlands.

Trading standards officers said more than 200 victims gave evidence during the trial.

It heard how between 2014 and 2015, MacDonald had carried out a widespread campaign of fraud and mis selling through the businesses Sunpower Renewables Ltd and Stirling Technologies Ltd, trading as Proshield Alarms.

Nottinghamshire County Council said Sunpower Renewables sold products, including solar panels and air source heat pumps, claiming people would receive a financial benefit through energy savings, that the cost of works was funded by the government and that they would be compensated through being able to sell surplus energy generated back to the grid.

'Dishonest and coercive'

Sunpower Renewables sales representatives would use bullying tactics to secure contracts, often staying in the homes of victims for many hours to pressure them into signing contracts for work they did not want or need at significantly-inflated prices, the council added.

Work was often of a poor standard and did not deliver on the energy savings promised.

In some cases, solar panels were installed on to roof areas that could not take their weight, creating the risk of structural collapse.

Sunpower Renewables then failed to deal with subsequent complaints.

The council said Proshield Alarms, in its marketing, told customers - of its home security products - "you'll be in safe hands 24 hours a day, 365 days a year" - misleading them into thinking products were linked to an emergency service alert system.

Scott Carlton, cabinet member for public health and communities at the council, said: "In this case, the defendant and his businesses deliberately targeted the elderly and those living in vulnerable situations, using dishonest and coercive sales tactics and lies about the quality of their products and the benefit they would bring to their victims.

"I would like to thank all the victims who came forward and worked with our investigators to help bring this case to trial."

MacDonald, of Park Row, Bretby, will be sentenced in March.

Roy Hancher, 54, of Light Ash Lane, Coven, Wolverhampton, pleaded guilty to fraudulent trading and Nicola Mather, 44, of Spindletree Drive, Derby, pleaded guilty to money laundering prior to the trial.