Shoddy builder who took cash in advance gets suspended sentence
A builder from Great Barr who took cash in advance for poor quality and unfinished work was handed a suspended jail term after a Trading Standards probe.
Christopher Abbotts, aged 56, of Howard Road, received a 32-week sentence suspended for two years at Birmingham Crown Court yesterday.
Abbotts, who pleaded guilty to six offences under the Fraud Act 2006 at an earlier hearing, was also ordered to complete 180 hours of community service, pay £1,500 in court costs and £500 in compensation.
Birmingham City Council brought the case after Trading Standards officers received complaints from customers who were left out of pocket by his shoddy efforts.
Abbotts admitted making dishonest representations and not completing building work as agreed at properties in three homes between September 1 and December 20, 2012.
Customers were asked to pay cash in advance for works and Abbotts told them the relevant materials had been ordered and were due for delivery.
But the materials were not delivered and building works were sub-standard or unfinished.
