Jail sentence for rogue builder
But 50-year-old Richard Wade, of Park Lane, was immediately freed on bail after announcing that he is appealing against his conviction.
Wade was arrested following an investigation by West Berkshire Council trading standards.
Following a two-day trial in October, Wade – who traded as HomePlus – was convicted of two offences of fraud and three offences of breaching the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 by engaging in aggressive and unfair commercial practices.
Wade had preyed on an 85-year-old Thatcham man who responded to a flyer in October 2011, offering double glazing from HomePlus at a special offer price of £1,295.
The man contacted Wade, and ultimately paid £3,100 for double glazing and doors to be installed in his home. However, they were never installed and the money never refunded.
The second instance concerned a 76-year-old Newbury woman who was quoted a price of £1,500 for work on her property.
The next day the price was increased to £2,500, or £2,400 for cash, and a deposit was paid to Mr Wade.
However the work carried out was not as agreed.
On the day that the works were undertaken, Wade had insisted on driving the woman to her bank so that she could obtain the cash to pay him in full.
Later, in May 2012, the victim was persuaded by Wade to make him further loans in order that he could resolve the problems with the work undertaken.
This was never repaid and Wade never returned. Eventually this victim had to pay £1,700 to another business to have the works rectified. At an initial sentencing hearing at Reading Magistrates’ Court on Friday, November 15, the bench decided its powers of punishment were insufficient.
They remanded Mr Wade in custody to be sentenced at Reading Crown Court on December 10.
At this hearing Judge Zoe Smith said: “I find no mitigation. You fought the case. You have paid nothing back and you have no money to compensate.”
She imposed a 15-month jail sentence.
After announcing his appeal Wade was freed on bail until next May.