News Watch the video (above) to see CTSI policy director Melissa Dring explain the institutes new blueprint for the structure of trading standards and the reasons behind CTSIs proposed new vision for the profession. Student killed by online diet pills Rogue builder Arthur Buff Roberts, of Gwalchmai, Anglesey, is back in jail following an investigation by Anglesey Trading Standards. The investigation related to home improvement works carried out for four local residents between December 2013 and June 2014. Roberts failed to: provide cancellation notices to customers; demonstrate professional diligence, resulting in poor quality work of little value; employed aggressive trading practices to secure additional work and payment; and failed to rovide information about the nature of the works. The builder pleaded guilty to fraud at Holyhead Magistrates Court in March. His previous convictions were taken into consideration during sentencing, notably a conviction in 2012 for fraudulently obtaining 17,500 from an elderly Anglesey woman for home maintenance work. Bearing in mind the similar nature of his conviction, and the targeting of vulnerable victims, the court sentenced him to 16 weeks in jail and awarded compensation to two of the victims, amounting to 1,050. The court also granted a three-year Criminal Behaviour Order preventing Roberts from cold calling. science Photo / shutterstock Builder back behind bars A 21-year-old student from Glyndwr University, Wrexham, has died after taking diet pills bought over the internet. Taking just two of the slimming pills, which contained the toxic substance DNP (2,4-Dinitrophenol), would have been fatal. On the day of her death, Eloise Aimee Parry took eight. Even though she drove herself to hospital after feeling nauseous, and was able to tell staff at A&E what she had taken, doctors were unable to save her from such a large dose of the chemical. Although DNP can cause weight loss, it is usually a prescriptiononly product because of the severe side-effects, which can include skin lesions, nausea, headaches, cataracts and damage to bone marrow, nervous and cardiovascular systems. The substance causes the metabolism to accelerate in the case of an overdose, it runs at such a fast pace that the body cannot cope and overheats. The person burns up from the inside. Parry is not the first victim of DNP. In 2013, 23-year-old student Sarah Houston was killed by the substance while trying to slim. In that case, DNP was sold to her labelled as a pesticide. Because slimming pills of the kind that killed Parry are available online, people are able to circumvent regulations to get their hands on DNP. However, medicines bought online are often shipped from overseas and may not be safe, or approved by medical authorities. West Mercia Police and partner agencies are working to discover where Parry bought the pills and how they were advertised. The Information Commissioners Office (ICO) has confirmed that it is looking into allegations that firms are selling sensitive personal data to fraudsters, following media interest in the matter. Reports initially appearing in the Daily Mail claimed that pension information is being put up for sale by cold calling firms without the knowledge or consent of the people concerned. Records were apparently available for as little as 5p. It has also been claimed that medical records and details of people who applied for payday loans are on offer. The ICO has launched an enquiry to find out whether there is any truth in the allegation the firms have breached the Data Protection Act or Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations. Steve Eckersley, the ICOs head of enforcement, said: What the Daily Mail has shown us is very worrying indeed. It suggests a frequent disregard of laws that are in place specifically to protect consumers. We will be launching an investigation immediately. The information weve been shown supports the work weve been doing to target the shady industry that operates behind the nuisance of cold calls and spam texts. Were already aware of the potential for a huge spike in the number of PathDoc / shutterstock InfORMATIOn COMMISSIOnER TO InVESTIGATE SALE Of PEnSIOn DETAILS scam texts and calls linked to pensions [following changes to the law governing pensions, which came into force in April] and have already taken action against a company that was sending out misleading messages. What weve seen here confirms those fears. Personal data is such a valuable asset, particularly financial information. The worst case scenario here is this information getting into the wrong hands and being used to target individuals at a critical point in their financial lives. The ICO can levy fines of up to 500,000 for serious breaches of the Data Protection Act and can pursue criminal prosecutions for unlawfully obtaining or accessing personal data. York clamps down on car salesman A car dealer who sold unroadworthy vehicles without proper documentation has been successfully prosecuted at York Magistrates Court. Kit Peter Barrett, sole director of Kits Cars in Beckwithshaw, defrauded two consumers from York by selling them unroadworthy vehicles that came without the necessary V5 DVLA registration documents. In addition, one of the customers never received a current MOT certificate. Despite a number of requests, Barrett did not refund either purchase and failed to respond to correspondence. They were obliged to scrap the cars as neither could afford to repair them. Prior to this prosecution, Kits Cars received verbal and written advice on civil and criminal law obligations a number of times and was visited by trading standards officers and VOSA inspectors to assess the roadworthiness of vehicles on the forecourt. Barrett pleaded guilty to six offences and the court imposed a three-year conditional discharge on all matters. He was also ordered to pay costs of 1,936, a surcharge of 15, plus compensation of 1,039. " ,