Trading Standards officers in West Sussex have secured thousands of pounds worth of compensation for five victims of a rogue builder.
32-year-old Samuel Luke Kwame Noye, of Millthorpe Road in Horsham, traded as Direct Property Maintenance and misled five homeowners between the ages of 48 and 78 with substandard and overpriced roofing work.
Cllr Duncan Crow, Cabinet Member for Community Support, Fire and Rescue, said, "Samuel Noye preyed on vulnerable homeowners, misleading them into paying for shoddy and overpriced work. The efforts of our Trading Standards team have ensured that we not only brought him to justice but also made sure that his ill-gotten gains are returned to those he defrauded."
"We will continue to use all the powers at our disposal to punish those who engage in illegal activities and to protect residents from falling victims of rogue traders. This incident serves as a clear reminder that crime doesn’t pay.”
The £44,400 compensation is set to be paid to the five victims, some of whom suffered significant financial losses due to Noye’s actions. The largest individual loss amounted to £21,300, with other victims also being forced to pay additional sums out of pocket to rectify the poorly done jobs.
Residents who suspect they may have fallen victim to rogue traders are encouraged to contact the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133 for advice.
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