A company director who was jailed for fraud offences has been forced to repay his victims as a result of Suffolk Trading Standards’ actions.
David Waters, 74, of Felixstowe, was the sole director of mobility furniture company Anchor Mobility. In 2019 Waters was convicted of 15 counts of unfair commercial practice, including fraudulent trading and poor customer service, after taking large deposits for products and failing to deliver. He was sentenced to 32 months in prison and fined £15,000.
During the course of their investigation into Anchor Mobility, Suffolk Trading Standards discovered more than 20 victims and received numerous customer complaints.
Suffolk Trading Standards sought additional compensation for all known victims, and in June 2022 Waters was ordered to repay £50,000 in proceeds from his crimes. Compensation ranging from £600 to more than £5,000 is now being paid out.
Graham Crisp, Head of Suffolk Trading Standards, said: “Although no compensation can undo the distress caused by David Water’s actions, I am delighted that 25 of his victims will be given a share of £50,000 from the proceeds of his crimes.
“Officers from Suffolk Trading Standards have worked tirelessly to deliver the compensation to victims, with many victims receiving thousands of pounds as a direct result of our involvement.
“Bringing Mr Waters to justice would not have been possible without the assistance of our colleagues from the National Trading Standards Tri Regional Investigation Team and I am grateful for their help in protecting Suffolk residents and ensuring a level playing field for our county’s legitimate traders.”
Cllr Andrew Reid, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Public Protection, added: “David Waters deceived elderly and disabled consumers, failing to deliver on his promise of life-changing products without a second thought to the detriment this may have on their quality of life.
“It is only right that he pays the price for his crooked dealings, and I am hopeful that this significant compensation claim will deter others who may be tempted to commit similar crimes.
“The case also highlights the positive impact of Suffolk’s Trading Standards team on a national level, with victims of Waters living as far afield as Cornwall and Wales amongst those receiving the compensation sought by our officers.”
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