A former director of a company that carried out home improvements has received a suspended jail sentence after being prosecuted for deliberately misleading his customers.
In a case brought by the Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service, Andrew Charles Parker, 59, of Rosemount Crieff Road, Aberfeldy, Scotland, was also disqualified from acting as director of a company for five years and ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid work.
At Plymouth Crown Court on Tuesday 5 May 2026, Parker, the former director of Affordable Home Improvements Ltd, pleaded guilty to contraventions under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations.
His actions included providing misleading information to customers in relation to delays in the provision of goods; not completing works done on a conservatory base; claiming window frames had been ordered when they had not; and the unauthorised use of logos on company paperwork that implied professional accreditations.
Victims from Devon, Somerset, Torbay, and Plymouth were affected.
Both the company, which went into liquidation in January 2024, and Mr Parker were each charged with the offences – Mr Parker in his capacity as the company’s sole director.
He received six months imprisonment suspended for 12 months in relation to each offence, plus 200 hours of unpaid work requirements.
The sentence for Affordable Home Improvements Ltd has been adjourned until the conclusion of confiscation proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
The court heard that towards the latter part of 2023, Mr Parker’s personal circumstances impacted on his ability to complete work.
However, he continued to quote for work and take deposits knowing that he may have problems completing it.
He then provided misleading excuses for delays or reasons not to continue.
And that the use of logos also provided a misleading impression of the company.
Judge Matthew Turner told the court that this was not a company that was dishonest from the start, and that it had got out of hand and was mismanaged.
Mr Parker made poor commercial decisions with significant mismanagement and desperate hope overtook the reality of the situation, the court heard.
But the harm to his customers was high and some of the money paid represented customers’ entire savings.
In total, five customers lost £69,224, which does not include the cost to them of having to put right work that was poorly done, or the cost of having to get another contractor to do the work that Mr Parker and the company had been paid to do.
Victims were also impacted not only by the financial loss but also from the anxiety arising from the incomplete work and having to find a resolution at their property.
Mr Parker was said to be of previous good character, who had experienced poor mental health, a difficult childhood, recent bereavements, a traffic collision, and injury.
These personal difficulties were part of the reason he became unable to keep a hold on the business.
Alex Fry, Operations Manager for Heart of the South West Trading Standards said:
“This case demonstrates the serious consequences for traders who mislead their customers. Consumers put their trust into the hands of businesses they believe to be acting honestly, and when that trust is abused, the impact can be devastating.
“Mr Parker continued to take deposits and provide false assurances when he knew he was unable to deliver the work promised. This resulted in significant financial loss and distress for his customers.
“Trading Standards will not hesitate to take robust enforcement action where traders breach consumer protection laws, and this sentence should serve as a clear warning that misleading practices will not be tolerated.”
If consumers have complaints about misleading sales they should contact Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808223113.