A criminal who targeted vulnerable and elderly people, persuading them to part with large sums of money for building work that he had no intention of carrying out, has been jailed for 34 months following an investigation by Dudley Council Trading Standards.
Kevin Bambrick (36) of Borough Crescent, Oldbury, charged his victims for materials that never arrived and work that was never completed, leaving some with their homes in a poor state for months.
Operating as a sole trader under the name Kevin Bambrick Builders, he came to the attention of Dudley Trading Standards in June 2021 after complaints were received about his activities from eight of his victims.
At Wolverhampton Crown Court on 3 January Bambrick’s behaviour towards his victims was described as ‘abrasive’, with the judge in the case saying his actions were “wholly dishonest from the start and continued over a prolonged period, with active deception”.
Bambrick pleaded guilty to a single offence of participating in a fraudulent business carried on by a sole trader, contrary to section 9(1) of the Fraud Act 2006, and was sentenced to 34 months behind bars.
Councillor James Clinton, cabinet member responsible for Trading Standards at Dudley Council, said: “We have shown time and time again that we will not hesitate to take action against traders who fail to meet their legal requirements.
“This is a shocking case of shoddy workmanship and the man responsible now faces the consequences of his actions.
“I would like to thank our officers for their hard work on this case and I commend the bravery of the people affected for coming forward.”
