Rogue traders warning

TRADING Standards chiefs have issued a warning to residents to be on their guard against rogue traders following the successful prosecution of man who conned a number of Warrington residents.
Gwyn Hamilton was convicted of a number of offences at Chester Crown Court following a two-year investigation into his roofing and property maintenance business.
The court heard how Hamilton cold-called on his victims and pressurised or bullied them into having work done which in some cases was not necessary or wanted.
Trading as Northwest Roofing, Fascia Finish, Hamilton & Sons and G&J Roofing, Hamilton also failed to give customers a notice detailing their right to a seven day cancellation period.
His victims included people in the Penketh area of Warrington, as well as the rest of Cheshire and parts of North Wales.
Hamilton pleaded guilty to two offences under the Trade Description Act and six offences under the Consumer Protection (Cancellation of Contracts Concluded away from Business Premises) Regulations 1987. He asked for two further offences to be taken into consideration.
Judge Elgan Edwards he had “treated his customers with complete contempt.
Hamilton was ordered to do 150 hours unpaid work, forfeited two vehicles seized by Cheshire and Warrington Trading Standards, and was ordered to pay £11,755.25 costs and £3,750 compensation to his victims.
He was also given an anti-social behaviour order preventing him from cold-calling for two years.
After the case the judge commended Trading Standards chief in Cheshire and Warrington.
Trading Standards officers advise members of the public never to enter into a contract or agreement with someone who “cold-calls”.