A builder has admitted taking money from customers for building materials, however he failed to finish the work to a professional standard.

The Trading Standards Service (TSS), of the Department of Enterprise and Investment, took Mr James Gordon to court following an investigation.

Mr Gordon pleaded guilty to charges under the Fraud Act 2006 and the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, at Lisburn Magistrates Court yesterday, 21 October.

The TSS investigated a complaint from a couple who had asked Mr Gordon to develop a two-storey extension to their property in Lower Ballinderry, Co. Antrim. Mr Gordon failed to carry out the building work to a professional standard. He agreed a price to build the extension as per the plans within 12 weeks. Mr Gordon left the job substantially unfinished after 17 months, having received the bulk of the agreed price. An independent survey commissioned by the TSS estimated that Mr Gordon had only completed around 46% of the work.

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Mr Gordon also received money for materials which were never produced; for example, he received an amount to buy roof tiles but the tiles were never supplied and the roof was left unprotected over the winter.

The couple had to employ someone else to complete the work. The independent report estimated that it was going to take just over £19,000 to complete the extension as it stood.

Sentencing was adjourned until a later date.

(CD/JP)