Rogue builder who ripped off six victims jailed

A rogue builder who ripped off homeowners and left them with poor quality and unfinished jobs has been jailed.

Leon Pate, from Burnley, Lancashire, traded as a builder and roofer under various names, including Driveway Designs and Landscapes, and Build Landscapes, Lancashire County Council said.

The 35-year-old had a pattern of starting jobs, leaving homes in a mess, and then refusing to come back to finish them, Burnley Crown Court heard.

He was jailed for 11 months after pleading guilty to offences relating to six victims.

His prosecution followed an investigation by the council's Trading Standards team.

People were left with incomplete roofing work and leaks, taking money for building materials that never arrived and leaving piles of rubbish for consumers to clear themselves, the council said.

It said in some cases, he even applied pressure to make further payments before they were due, by stating that work would stop and obtained jobs by offering empty promises that work would be completed in weeks and delayed them for months.

Some of his victims were still living in turmoil more than a year after the job started, it added.

Pate, of Church Street, was convicted of two counts of engaging in commercial practice which was aggressive and engaging in commercial practice which is a misleading action containing false information under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.

His sentence was originally deferred for six months by the courts after he claimed he would pay £30,000 back to six victims if given some time.

However, he had not paid a penny back so has been jailed.

Pate will now face confiscation proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act in the hope of obtaining some compensation for the victims.

Councillor Michael Green said: "I was appalled to hear how Lancashire residents were exploited by Mr Pate, but I'm pleased he has been brought to justice.

"Rogue traders can appear to be very friendly and plausible at the start of jobs, until things go wrong, when they leave houses in chaos and turn on customers," he said, urging people to make detailed checks before employing traders.

He encouraged people to use the Lancashire Safe Trader Scheme and get multiple quotes for work.

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