A ROGUE trader in Cheshire who left a customer’s home without a roof has been ordered to pay up thousands of pounds.
Stephen Ainsley, who ran Orford-based Sabrik UK, was found of four Trading Standards offenses at Warrington Magistrates Court after a trial.
These counts related to two addresses in Preston and Bolton which the 61-year-old had carried out ‘poor quality’ work on.
In February 2020, he agreed to build an extension at one property and complete roofing work at the other.
Ainsley was paid more than £7,000 to supply doors and windows at the former house, but never did so.
The builder also took payments ahead of work being completed, totaling around £17,000.
But he then informed the homeowner that he had run out of money, could not carry out the work and failed to provide a refund.
Ainsley then removed the roof from the second house and left the building ‘exposed to the elements’ for six months before again informing the customer that he had run out of money and would be unable to finish the job.
Both victims had to appoint new workers in order to rectify the incomplete work and weather damage caused, paying ‘substantial sums’ to do so.
The defendant – whose business was headquartered at Warrington Business Park on Long Lane – pleaded not guilty to all charges but was convicted last month.
Magistrates heard that Ainsley, of Wigan, ‘had limited funds available’ and he was instead told to repay a total of £6,000 in compensation to the two complainants.
Cllr Hitesh Patel, Warrington Borough Council’s executive board member for environment, housing and public protection, said: “We are pleased with the outcome of this case and that the two customers involved were able to receive compensation for the unprofessional, costly and unfair trading practices of this building firm.
“These kinds of behaviors that take advantage of consumers, where they often have to foot the bill to rectify poor or incomplete work, will not be tolerated in Warrington.
“If you have had a similar experience and need to report a trading standards issue, you can find out more and report an incident on the council’s website.”