»A rogue tradesman who left homes unfinished and in a dangerous state has been sentenced for poor workmanship and fraud.

Hackney Council’s trading standards took David Taylor, of DT Property Maintenance and Electrical Contractors, to Snaresbrook Crown Court after he left jobs incomplete, and homes unfit for human habitation and at risk of fire and flood because of dangerous electrical rewiring that required work to put right.

In all the cases his efforts required other contractors to remedy the poor workmanship, costing the residents more than £10,000 on top of what they had paid Taylor.

He pleaded guilty to 12 counts under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 last year and was given an eight-month suspended prison sentence earlier this month, which runs consecutively with a 12-month suspended sentence for fraud.

‘Disastrous’

In November 2013, Taylor, of Brabazon Road, Hounslow, was found guilty at Isleworth Crown Court of committing fraud against his employer in a case brought by the Metropolitan Police.

During sentencing, Judge Andrew 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.”

Taylor will be supervised for two years, tagged and under curfew for six months, between 8pm and 8am. He was also ordered to undertake 15 days’ unpaid activities.

Cllr Feryal Demirci, cabinet member for neighbourhoods, said: “Trading standards officers have worked tirelessly to ensure that 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 tradesperson, and if you’re still unsure, contact Hackney trading standards.”

Trading standards advises that people find traders who are members of trade organisations and schemes such as Buy with Confidence or Which magazine’s Trusted Trader.

n For advice or to report a trader contact Hackney Council’s trading standards, on 020 8356 4929 or visit trading.standards@hackney.gov.uk.