Rogue Trader Who Defrauded Customers of £135,000 Avoids Jail

A rogue trader from Newquay has been sentenced after admitting to defrauding customers of more than £135,000. The prosecution was brought by Cornwall Council’s Trading Standards team following complaints about the trader’s dishonest practices in building and home improvement works.

James Edwin O’Dell Admits Fraud

James Edwin O’Dell, 39, pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud under the Fraud Act 2006. The offences took place between April 2021 and December 2022, and involved seven different properties where O’Dell was hired to carry out building and home improvement projects.

O’Dell misled customers by taking payments for materials that were never purchased. He also falsely claimed that VAT was required, despite not being VAT registered. In some cases, large deposits were taken for work that was either incomplete or not started at all. For others, the work was carried out to a poor standard, leaving customers with additional costs to rectify the situation.

Court Ruling

On Friday, September 27th, at Truro Crown Court, O’Dell was handed a two-year suspended sentence. As part of his punishment, he must complete 200 hours of unpaid work and adhere to a three-month curfew between 7pm and 7am.

Martyn Alvey, the portfolio holder for Enforcement and Public Protection at Cornwall Council, said: “This is yet another example of the devastation caused due to the reckless and selfish actions of a supposed builder. These families put their faith in O’Dell with the hope of improving their homes, only to be left out of pocket and having to work day and night to put things right.”

Emotional and Financial Impact

While the financial loss to customers and a local business was £135,000, the actual damage was much higher due to the costs of repairing the substandard work. Many families were left emotionally strained, with their homes left uninhabitable due to the poor workmanship.

Thanks to the involvement of Cornwall Council’s Trading Standards team, some customers have managed to recover their losses through their banks’ fraud protection schemes. The prosecution highlights the importance of being cautious when hiring builders for home improvements.