A rogue builder who ripped off his customers to the tune of more than £31,000 has been found guilty of five offences following an investigation by Walsall Council Trading Standards.
Shane Steven Rollinson came to the attention of the Trading Standards team when two local residents complained about his activities.
The work carried out by Rollinson was deemed to be of poor quality (image credit: Walsall Trading Standards)
Rollinson demanded upfront payments for materials that often did not arrive, repeatedly asked for more money, and convinced his victims to undertake more work than had originally been agreed. Tradesmen he employed also asked for more money as Rollinson had not paid them, and additional complainants from outside Walsall reported similar issues.
Despite having been paid more than £31,000, Rollinson was repeatedly absent from the building projects, citing illness and family emergencies. An independent surveyor deemed the work that had been done was of poor quality, lacking reasonable care and skill and not fit for purpose. The total value of work for both residents was estimated to be only £2,600.
When he became aware of the Trading Standards investigation, Rollinson attempted to persuade witnesses to withdraw their evidence so that he would not face criminal charges. He used several business names to avoid being detected, including SN Brickwork, SSR Brickwork & Driveways and Brickwork Best, and also pretended to be one of his own business associates.
Rollinson failed to attend pre-trial review hearings and the case was heard in his absence at Wolverhampton Crown Court from 14 to 16 October. The jury found him guilty on one count of participating in a fraudulent business carried on by a sole trader, contrary to Section 9(1) of the Fraud Act 2006. He was also found guilty on four counts of intending to pervert the course of public justice, contrary to Common Law, by contacting witnesses to persuade them to withdraw their involvement.
Shane Rollinson is currently being sought by the police (image credit: West Midlands Police)
Councillor Garry Perry, Leader of Walsall Council, commented: “I am appalled by the work that was carried out by Mr Rollinson, leaving residents thousands of pounds out of pocket. Much of the work was never done and some work was done to a very poor standard. I would like to thank our Trading Standards team for bringing this case to the Crown Court for prosecution.
“It is vital that residents are aware of their consumer rights when it comes to Trading Standards regulations being breached. Officers have the right to inspect and investigate businesses who are not compliant with the law. If you are concerned about a business or trader who is not following the law, please tell us. We will investigate any complaints and if necessary, take every possible legal action against these rogue traders.”
Rollinson has not yet been sentenced and a warrant is currently out for his arrest.
