TWO rogue traders in Cornwall have been given suspended prison sentences after admitting a string of offences which left their customers around £30,000 out of pocket.
Thomas Shea and James Stanton were sentenced at Truro Crown Court following a prosecution brought by Cornwall Council’s trading standards team.
At an earlier hearing, Shea entered guilty pleas to four fraud offences, whilst Stanton admitted three fraud offences. These related to their participation in a fraudulent business, along with making false statements to consumers.
The hearing was told that between September 2021 and March 2023 both Stanton and Shea traded under the name JS Masonry, taking money to carry out building work to holiday home properties for four different customers. In the cases where work was done, it was completed to a poor standard and was not rectified when customers complained. Other works were not started at all, despite large deposits being paid.
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The pair also ordered building products they didn’t pay for and took money from customers for specific materials that were never ordered, pocketing the cash.
Shea admitted participation in two further fraudulent businesses – LD Masonry and County Walling South West. Again, he admitted to failing to carry out agreed works for which he took payment.
Stanton, of Doubletrees Court, Par, received an 18-month sentence, suspended for two years, and must do 100 hours of unpaid work. He was ordered to pay £9,224 compensation to the owners of holiday lodges and £2,585 to another customer.
Shea, of Bodiner Lane, Penzance, was given an 18-month sentence, suspended for two years, and must do 100 hours of unpaid work. He was ordered to pay £9,224 compensation to the owners of holiday lodges, £7,750 to Perranarworthal Cricket Club and £5,932 to another customer.
Cornwall councillor Martyn Alvey, portfolio holder for environment and climate change, said: “This is yet another example of individuals purporting to be legitimate builders and taking advantage of customers by agreeing large upfront deposits for work that they have no intention to complete.
“I’d like to thank our trading standards team which continues to receive a high number of these types of complaint.”