News Rogue trader jailed for conning 108k from OAPs A rogue trader who defrauded 21 elderly victims out of 108,000 over almost two years has been jailed. Following a joint investigation by Devon, Somerset and Torbay Trading Standards and the National Trading Standards South West Regional Investigation Team, John Carroll from Cricklade, Wiltshire, who admitted a single charge of fraud, was sentenced at Exeter Crown Court in May to 38 months in prison. His accomplice, John Rice, from Swansea, pleaded guilty to money laundering and was jailed for 12 weeks. The court heard that from July 2012 to May 2014, Carroll who traded variously as JW Contractors, Westfield Roofline, Property Care Roofing and Building, and Torbay Roofing and Building advertised roofing and driveway services across the South West and South Wales. He touted for business by cold calling his victims and advertising in local newspapers. Carroll would frequently give a quote and then, as the works progressed, claim he had identified extra problems. All of his victims some of whom have now died said the work was shoddy andoverpriced. Carroll constantly changed his phone number, used false names and addresses, and didnt tell consumers about their cancellation rights. This meant he could not be traced and customers were left with no comeback. Although Rice had no dealings with the victims, between March and May 2014, he laundered 28,950 of Carrolls ill-gotten gains through his own accounts. Judge Juliet May ordered an investigation to determine if either of the defendants held assets that could be used to compensate the victims. Terry Manning, Torbays executive lead for environment with responsibility for trading standards, said: Carroll targeted the most vulnerable and, in many cases, conned them out of their life savings, not caring if he left them destitute. I am pleased that our trading standards team has stopped him from ripping off any more of our residents. Travel agent books himself a one-way ticket to prison engaging in an unfair commercial practice and one count of engaging in an aggressive commercial practice, at Harrow Crown Court in May. Ahmed conned victims out of almost 42,000. More than 30 would-be holiday-goers were led to believe they had booked flights through ABT, only to end up out of pocket and devastated when they discovered they did not have flights at all. Simon legg, senior regulatory service manager at Brent Council, said: Brent Council is doing everything it can to support local businesses to thrive. Tackling the small number of rogue traders like Ahmed, who try to con consumers, is part of this approach. iSToCk.Com / kASTo80 The director of a travel agency which conned thousands of pounds out of unsuspecting holiday makers by taking bookings for non-existent flights has been sentenced to 12 months in prison, following an investigation by Brent Trading Standards. Anas Ahmed, from Kingsbury, ran AirBridge Travel limited with his wife. He was found guilty on two counts of Baby products up to 80 per cent cheaper than regular products It seems the cotton wool is being pulled over consumers eyes as new research by money-saving website Voucherbox.co.uk reveals baby products are between 18-80 per cent cheaper than similar own-branded regular products. Of the products examined, 80 per cent were far cheaper when purchased from the baby products aisle, including seemingly identical products such as cotton buds and cotton wool balls both of which were almost double the price when purchased as regular products. A switch to baby products offers potential savings of 8.64 per shop. Skin oil offers the biggest cost saving, where baby oil can be purchased for 80 per cent less than the cheapest own-branded oil for adults. Soap and talcum powder are also significantly less expensive 74 per cent and 64 per cent respectively. The three products where the regular version cost less than theirbaby counterparts are shampoo and bubble bath, which are both 42 per cent cheaper, and toothpaste, which works out 35 per centcheaper. Vodafone and EE rated worst mobile phone providers EE and Vodafone have been rated as the two worst mobile phone providers in Which?s annual mobile phone customer satisfaction survey. The survey, now in its sixth year and based on customers experience, saw both EE and Vodafone awarded customer scores of 50 per cent. The companies had poor ratings for value for money, incentives and customer service. Both providers have committed to making improvements after suffering from high-profile billing issues and receiving fines from Ofcom. Giffgaff and Utility Warehouse were rated as the top two providers, with scores of 81 per cent and 76 per cent respectively.