Tradesman sentenced for duping Hackney resident
David Taylor of DT Property Maintenance and Electrical Contractors was sentenced to a total of twenty months imprisonment, suspended for two years at Isleworth Crown Court, 10 January 2014.
Hackney Council’s Trading Standards took Mr. David Taylor of DT Property Maintenance and Electrical Contractors to Snaresbrook Crown Court after he left jobs unfinished, homes unfit for human habitation, at risk of fire and flood because of dangerous electrical rewiring that required urgent work to put right. As well as this, a roof that was leaking had to be replaced, and in all cases his efforts required other contractors to remedy the poor workmanship, costing the residents in excess of £10,000 on top of what they had paid Mr. Taylor.
In November 2013 Mr. Taylor was also found guilty at trial at Isleworth Crown Court, for committing a fraud against his employer. This case was brought to court by the Metropolitan Police.
Mr. Taylor had also pleaded guilty to twelve counts under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 at Snaresbrook Crown Court, June 2013. He was given a twelve months suspended sentence for the fraud and eight for the Trading Standards offences, which will run consecutively.
Hackney Council’s Trading Standards Officers have worked tirelessly to ensure that Mr. Taylor was held to account for duping unwitting residents into allowing him to undertake complex improvements to their homes with disastrous and expensive results. Our advice is always check out any potential trades person, and if you’re still unsure contact Hackney Trading Standards.
In sentencing, His Honour Judge McDowall said: “Both of these cases call for a custodial sentence, but it will not be an immediate one. I would also like to order you to pay the costs if you had the money. I can only ask Counsel to inform the losers that I would like to make an award but am not in a position to do so. There appears to be little chance of them getting their money.”
Mr Taylor will be supervised for two years and will be tagged and under curfew for six months, between 8pm and 8am. He was also ordered to undertake fifteen days unpaid activities as directed by the court.
Hackney Council Trading Standards Service advises resident looking for a trades person to come into their home and undertake home improvement work to find traders who are members of a scheme such as Buy with Confidence or Which Magazine’s Trusted Trader.
If a trader claims to belong to a trade association or professional trade body, such as the NICEIC, Trustmark, Gas Safe the advice is to check with these organisations. For advice or to report a trader contact Hackney Council’s Trading Standards on 0208 356 4929.