Poole duo sentenced for trading standards offences

Nico White (30) and Dylan Ryan (22), both from Poole, Dorset, were sentenced at Salisbury Crown Court for offences relating to the sales of solar energy panels.

Ten elderly victims across the country contacted Citizens Advice following the installation of solar panels by UK Home Energy Group Ltd.  Mr White, the sole director of the now dissolved company, had employed Mr Ryan as a salesman.

The victims were all visited by Mr Ryan following an unsolicited telephone call from UK Home Energy Group Ltd. He told them should they have solar panels installed by the company they would be able to sell any excess electricity generated back to their energy companies. The victims found, following the installation, that this was untrue, as the company had failed to supply the required Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) certificate or equivalent, preventing them from registering their systems with the national grid. Building regulations completion certificates and electrical safety certificates were also not supplied.

Mr Ryan also pleaded guilty to telling customers that the costs of installation would be recouped within two to three years and should this not be the case an insurance policy would cover any shortfall. He had also offered the customers a discount which he claimed was due to government grants being available. All these statements were untrue.

When customers wrote to the company address on the paperwork, this was returned as they were not based at the location stated.

Cllr Dominic Muns, Cabinet Member for Environment, said: As part of our Business Plan commitment to protect our residents from harm, rogue traders need to be aware that we will take action and won't tolerate this type of behaviour in Wiltshire.

Our advice to residents is to thoroughly research any company or business before hiring them to carry out any work. Anyone that receives an unsolicited phone call or an unexpected knock on the door has the right to hang up on the caller or say no. Don't agree to any work on the spot, ask for the person's ID and if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Our Trading Standards team do all they can to support people to be aware of the signs of unscrupulous traders, and I want to thank the victims in this case for coming forward and sharing their experiences to help us secure these prosecutions.

Mr Ryan was ordered to pay £2000 compensation to each of the 10 victims, totalling £20,000.  Mr White was disqualified from acting as a company director for 5 years and must also pay £1980 in costs.  Both men must also complete 200 hours of unpaid work and pay a victim surcharge.

If anyone believes they have been the victim of a rogue trader, they should call Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133.

People looking to find a builder with trading standards approval could visit www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk (opens new window)