Voltimum - Borough council succesfully prosecutes 'electrician'

[Social Integrator]

An unqualified electrician who dangerously rewired a Hartlepool home has been jailed for 13 months thanks to a successful prosecution from Hartlepool Borough Council’s Trading Standards team.

John Draco (35) of Newton Aycliffe pleaded guilty to fraud and consumer protection related offences after falsely claiming to be a qualified electrician accredited by several trade associations.

The court heard how Draco had offered to complete a full rewire of a property for £3,000. According to the Trading Standards team, when his 'shoddy' work was challenged by the homeowner, he abandoned the job and kept the full sum. The homeowner then contacted Hartlepool Trading Standards as they were worried by the quality and safety of the work that had been done,

A qualified Council electrical engineer carried out a full inspection and immediately ordered it to not be used as it posed a serious risk of fire and electrocution. The resident was forced to pay an alternative trader thousands of pounds to fix the damage Draco had caused.

At Durham Crown Court John Draco was sentenced to 13 months imprisonment and confirmed that he had repaid his victim £3,820.

Ian Harrison, Hartlepool Borough Council’s Trading Standards and Licensing Manager, said: “This successful prosecution sends out a strong message that the courts will not tolerate rogue traders conning people out of their hard-earned cash.

“These criminals will face lengthy jail terms and hefty fines, and we would encourage anyone who thinks they may have encountered a cowboy builder or rogue trader to report the incident to Hartlepool Trading Standards (on 01429 523362) so they can be swiftly brought to justice.”

Brand: 
Voltimum


Thumbnail image: 

Teaser: 
'Cowboy' electrician jailed for carrying out dangerous electrical work


Type: 
Industry News


Date of publication: 
10/01/2019


Target group: 
Voltimum


View the full article

 

[Sharpend]

Wow and not a mention of the niceic logo abuse anywhere! 

This has to be a first? 

 

[ProDave]

Wow and not a mention of the niceic logo abuse anywhere! 

This has to be a first? 

"after falsely claiming to be a qualified electrician accredited by several trade associations."

So he had claimed to be a member of some association when he wasn't.

Apart from anything else, it was fraud as he kept the money in spite of not completing the job.

If the stupid begar had just given the money back ho would probably still be a free man.

 

[Sharpend]

Point was that when Niceic prosecute for misuse of logo the most that is issued is a fine here Trading Standards have actually took the case out of the hands of the niceic and have secured an imprisonment. So if all councils adopt this approach we might actually see a reduction of the chancers in the trade? 

 

[ProDave]

Yes, but my point is it only came to court because the customer paid the full price but did not get what they paid for, so trading standards became involved.  I don't believe trading standards would just have taken action if the job had been completed but to a poor standard. That is the sort of case we need to find to show they really are bothered.

 

[Sharpend]

Ah I see your point, sadly I believe you may be right. 

 

[Geoff1946]

It would be nice to see the technical report.

Is it available anywhere as it was used as evidence?

 

[Doc Hudson]

Point was that when Niceic prosecute for misuse of logo the most that is issued is a fine here Trading Standards have actually took the case out of the hands of the niceic and have secured an imprisonment. So if all councils adopt this approach we might actually see a reduction of the chancers in the trade?

Trading standards became involved only because "The customer made a compliant to them"

The homeowner then contacted Hartlepool Trading Standards as they were worried by the quality and safety of the work that had been done,

A lot of poor/dangerous workmanship is never complained about, to either trading standard or NIC etc, because the work had been done by a friend of a friend or son-in-laws brother, or a guy from work, who did it cheap as a cash in hand weekend job, or someone of similar characteristics And the homeowner doesn't want to stitch them up! Without anyone willing to complain and testify against them no case can be made against anyone.

Doc H.

Locked to prevent being resurrected (again)