Rogue builder turned drug dealer sent to prison at Shrewsbury Crown Court
Shropshire Council’s public protection service has welcomed the five-year custodial sentence issued to rogue trader and drug dealer Stephen John Lovatt, 44, from Stoke-on-Trent.
The sentence issued by Shrewsbury Crown Court follows a number of successful cases taken against Lovatt who, despite awaiting the outcome of cases in the legal system, continued to act illegally. This led to the court sentencing Lovatt for two prosecutions brought by Shropshire Council’s public protection team for a host of rogue trading style offences, and three cases brought by the Crown Prosecution Service, one at Wolverhampton Crown Court for a similar incident and two final cases at Stoke Crown Court for the possession with intent to supply class A drugs. He was sentenced to a total of 11 months for the public protection cases, and a further 49 months for the drugs cases, to run consecutively, totalling 60 months.
The public protection cases were investigated following a string of complaints from householders across Shropshire, Telford and the West Midlands who had suffered from the actions of Lovatt during two separate spells in 2011 and 2012. In these cases, either no work was ever done for the monies paid over, or the work was started, poorly executed and left unfinished.
Lovatt also routinely misled householders about who they were dealing with, claiming to represent and sometimes issuing paperwork in the name of businesses he was not working for. In one case, he was paid £4,800 in cash towards the work being done, but denied ever having received the money. The householders concerned repeatedly tried and failed to contact Lovatt, and attempts to rectify poor work were never resolved.
Lovatt was charged with a number of offences under the Fraud Act 2006 and the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, including participating in a fraudulent business.
Grant Tunnadine, investigations team manager for public protection, said:
“I am extremely pleased with the outcome of the sentencing hearing. In issuing its sentence the court has clearly recognised the activities undertaken by this trader were nothing more than aggresive rogue trading, targeting elderly members of our community. His victims were almost all in their 70s and 80s, some very vulnerable, but all were looking to improve and protect their homes where they were hoping to enjoy their retirement. Lovatt betrayed their trust and was fully immersed in ripping off and letting down the victims in his second spell of offending whilst an arrest summons was out for him on the first case. Hopefully, the sentence that has been handed down by the court will help deter others from undertaking such illegal activities in the future. “
“I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all the witnesses who helped us bring these cases to court. These victims have remained both patient and supportive throughout the elongated legal process caused by the defendant’s persistent delaying tactics and his unwillingness to fully co-operate with the service in the handling of the cases against him.”
Mal Price, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member responsible for public protection, added:
“Once again the public protection team has been called upon to take action against a trader who has failed to comply with the law and targeted vulnerable consumers in their homes. It is important to stress to residents to be on their guard against these traders who cold call at your home or place of work. My advice is simply not to accept this type of work from cold callers. Anyone who requires work to their home should carry out research into who they deal with. In carrying out this research, we would always advise consumers to consider traders who belong to The Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin Trader Register – www.traderregister.org.”
Consumers who have concerns about any product or service where they feel they have been misled or defrauded in any way should contact the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 08454 04 05 06, with whom Shropshire Council works in partnership. Information can be given anonymously and will always be treated in line with the council’s information governance policies.
