Rogue builder who defrauded elderly to be sentenced at Crown Court

Fifty-year-old Richard Wade, of Park Lane, was arrested following an investigation by West Berkshire Council trading standards officers triggered by complaints from the public.
Following a two-day trial in October, Mr 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.
The investigation was a result of two complaints.
The first complaint related to 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 Mr Wade, and ultimately paid £3,100 for double glazing and doors to be installed in his home. However, the windows and doors which had been paid for were never installed and the money never refunded.
The second complaint was in respect of a 76-year-old Newbury woman who received a flyer through her door in May 2012. Having responded to the flyer, Mr Wade visited her the same day and 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, Mr 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 Mr Wade to make him further loans in order that he could resolve the problems with the work undertaken.
This was never repaid and Mr Wade never returned. Eventually this victim had to pay £1,700 to another business to have the works rectified.
At a sentencing hearing at Reading Magistrates’ Court on Friday, November 15, after reading pre-sentence reports and reading victim impact statements, the bench decided its powers of punishment were insufficient.
Mr Wade was remanded in custody for sentencing by a judge at Reading Crown Court on December 10.
Anyone requiring advice or wishing to report a trading related incident or crime should contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Line on 0845 040506. Any matter requiring investigation will be referred to Trading Standards.