'Rogue' traders endangered unsuspecting householders
Newbury and Thatcham pair admit work was sub standard
TWO rogue traders who endangered the lives of unsuspecting homeowners with dodgy electrical fittings must pay more than £10,000 between them.
Guy Badley, trading as Guy Badley Carpentry Services of Thatcham, and Terry Greening, trading as Greening Electrical in Newbury, admitted offences under Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.
A prosecution by West Berkshire Council’s trading standards department followed a random inspection of their work by British Gas, which found that electrical sockets they fitted were dangerous.
The offences involved fitting bathroom lights, ground floor lights and kitchen sockets at 190 Craven Road, Newbury, and kitchen cupboard lighting at 72 Volunteer Road, Theale.
All the offences were committed between September 24, 2012, and October 10, 2012.
At Reading Magistrates’ Court on Friday, November 18, Mr Badley was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay £2,500 in costs plus a statutory victim services surcharge of £120.
Mr Greening admitted two offences relating to the installation of bathroom lighting and a vanity unit, in addition to porch underfloor heating.
The court heard Mr Greening is a qualified electrician but Mr Badley is not.
Both men accepted their work was not up to the professional standard required by consumers.
Afterwards, West Berkshire Council’s trading standards portfolio holder Marcus Franks (Con, Speen), said: “This is a clear case of rogue traders carrying out work they were neither qualified nor capable of doing.
“They left homeowners in danger without a care for their safety and these fines are well deserved.
“I would urge homeowners to always check traders credentials before allowing them to carry out electrical or any other potentially dangerous works.”
Any West Berkshire resident or business who has concerns about work completed by traders is asked to contact the Trading Standards helpline (01635) 519930 or email tsadvice@westberks.gov.uk
