Oswestry rogue trader told to pay £7,000 after over-charging for shoddy work
A rogue trader has been told to pay more than £7,000 in compensation and court fees after overcharging a customer for shoddy work.
Stephen Arthur Reginald Wright, 36, was set to face trial at Telford Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday over three charges of fraud, but changed his pleas to guilty at the start of the hearing.
Mike Davies, prosecuting for Shropshire Council, told the court the offences dated back to August 2021 when Wright cold called a property in Park Hall, near Oswestry, to say the roof was in need of repair or could be at risk of collapse.
Mr Davies said Wright used a false name to avoid revealing his true identity – as it had only been a matter of months since he was released from prison for similar offences.
He also showed the homeowner a business website on his phone, highlighting a number of positive customer testimonials, but the business was not his.
A price of £5,600 was agreed for the work, but Mr Davies said Wright did not inform the victim of the legally-required ‘cooling off period’.
Despite assurances that he would not pay a penny until the work was complete, the homeowner received a message later that day asking for £2,300 up front. This was paid, and the work began the following day.
