Central Bedfordshire Trading Standards puts rogue trader Tommy Ward behind bars In this feature l doorstep crime l pressure tactics l vulnerable witnesses The case of the bully builder From radio interviews to threats and intimidation, Central Bedfordshire Trading Standards had its work cut out investigating rogue trader Tommy Ward, as Jake Ramphal explains I t all started with a tip-off. In May 2015, Central Bedfordshire Trading Standards received a call from a concerned local resident who believed elderly neighbours were being conned into having unnecessary work carried out to the roof of their house in Totternhoe, Bedfordshire. We were told that workers were currently at the address and because of the vulnerable nature of the alleged victims officers went to the scene immediately. On arrival, we were shocked to find the trader Tommy Ward, of Great Billington, who, at that time was running a company called Fix A Roof Ltd was trying to charge the couple 25,000 to re-roof their three-bedroom home. The work was almost complete by the time of our visit, so we called in a chartered surveyor at once to inspect the property to determine: whether the work had been necessary; the standard to which it had been carried out; and to obtain a fair labour market value for the job. Two weeks later we received the surveyors report, which indicated that the value of the work was just 6,500 and in some respects the quality of the work was poor. Unfortunately, the surveyor was non-committal on whether it had been necessary in the first place. We asked the couple not to pay the bill while we carried out further investigations. However, Ward and an accomplice repeatedly phoned and visited them, pressuring them into parting with 15,000. pERSoNaL pRotECtIoN tIpS foR tSoS We were shocked to find that the rogue trader was trying to charge the couple 25,000 to re-roof their home threats, intimidation and a radio appearance During a second visit to the victims house, we were intercepted by Ward on the couples driveway. He refused to let us carry out enquiries without him being present. When we tried to return to our vehicle, he followed us and made numerous accusations, including that trading standards was racist and that he was being targeted because he was from the travelling community. He became more angry and agitated, even though we remained silent after telling him we would speak to him on another occasion. We started to feel intimidated and, fearing an imminent breach of the peace, we were forced to call the police. A few days later, Ward telephoned me on my mobile, warning that if the investigation continued he would make a formal complaint and I would lose my job. We discovered that Ward had obtained my number by pressuring the elderly couple to pass it on. He proceeded to telephone me regularly to make threats and accusations, and even enlisted his associates to do the same. Realising his pressure tactics were not working and that the investigation would continue, Ward contacted the Jonathan VernonSmith Show on BBC Three Counties Radio. He was invited onto the radio show and given a platform to air his grievances. He proceeded to claim that he was being unfairly treated by trading standards because of his background, and claimed that he was doing good work. After the show, Vernon-Smith contacted the council to ask for an explanation as to why Ward was being treated in this manner. The presenter was politely reminded that Ward was the subject of an on-going investigation and no further comment was made. moving across counties Aware that Central Bedfordshire Trading Standards was investigating Ward, Hertfordshire police asked us to investigate a complaint in Hemel Hempstead in January 2016. On arrival, we found that the residents another elderly couple in their 80s had been cold-called by Ward and told that the batons on their roof were rotten. It just so happened that the couple had had their roof inspected by their regular roofer the previous month. That roofer had taken images of the roof, which showed perfectly sound batons. We obtained statements from the couple and their roofer, and obtained the pictures of the roof. In February 2016, we were contacted by Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards. It had received a complaint about Ward who was now operating a company called Acorn Home Solutions and asked us to investigate. We went to the home of a man in his 90s, who had paid Ward a significant sum for work to the chimney and ridge tiles of the property. We took statements from his son and daughter-in-law and two trading standards officers from Buckinghamshire. We also commissioned the surveyor we had used in the Totternhoe case to inspect and report on the roofing. Once again Ward showed up like a bad penny while we were there, and the police had to be called to get him to leave. Ward, and a suspected accomplice, were interviewed under caution according to the requirements set out in the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 in relation to all three complaints. Ward was invited onto the radio show and given a platform to air his grievances Identifying the rogue traders We believe that Ward had an accomplice in these crimes and formal charges were laid against another individual, because there was evidence to place him at one of the scenes. We arranged a police video identification parade in August 2016, but the suspect failed to attend. Another identification parade was arranged in February 2017, but this time victims failed to pick out the suspect. Consequently, we made the difficult decision to drop charges against thesecond suspect. Counsel asked us to get the surveyor to carry out another inspection of the house in Totternhoe to revalue the work as if it had been carried out in observance with all required building regulations. To our utter amazement, the surveyor came back with a figure of 25,000. He then revised this figure down to 15,000, but what his second inspection and statement served to do was blow our fraud case out of the water, in respect of Totternhoe. He continued to refuse to offer an opinion on whether or not the work had been necessary in the first place. pre-trial hearing and sentencing Fearing an imminent breach of the peace, we were forced to call the police The case was originally listed for trial at Luton Crown Court in July 2017, but was adjourned because Ward changed his legal team and one of our primary witnesses was not available. Charges had been laid against Ward in respect of seven counts of encompassing fraud, failure to provide cancellation rights and aggressive commercial practice under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. At a pre-trial hearing on 4 October 2017, Wards counsel offered to plead guilty to one count of fraud and two counts of aggressive commercial practice. As the offer meant not having to subject elderly witnesses to having to give evidence, we accepted. At the same hearing, Ward was sentenced by Judge Lithman QC to 10 months immediate imprisonment. He was not ordered to pay compensation. We applied for costs of 6,500, but these were declined on the basis that Ward did not have means to pay, and because he was sent straight to prison. I should like to acknowledge the contributions made to this investigation and prosecution by Matthew Knowles (now at East Sussex Trading Standards) and Nastassia Khilkevich, legal officer at LGSS Law. Credits Jake Ramphal is lead officer doorstep To share this page, in the toolbar click on You might also like Hide and Seek September 2017 crime for Central Bedfordshire Trading Standards. Images: iStock.com / id-work pERSoNaL pRotECtIoN tIpS foR tSoS Think identification parade. I also had about your own security colleague support or police back-up. any obstruction and threats, voluntary group, which was willing to give extra support if needed Ward, we had a police presence for and report them to your manager immediately. When Ward threatened discussions with an independent In view of previous obstruction from Record and when you may need to have the surveyors inspection in Totternhoe If you think your personal vehicle Only use an experienced expert witness. If you are unsure who to approach, speak to other us at the house in Totternhoe, I index may be known and retained by authorities for recommendations. recorded the whole incident in a criminal, contact the National Anti- The surveyor that I normally use was my officers notebook and wrote Fraud Network (NAFN) because it may unavailable, so I commissioned a witness statement, as did my be able to have the vehicle removed another surveyor because we were colleague. A report of the incident from certain registers in a hurry to get the work done. Consider the use of special The surveyor that we used had no to my manager. When Ward and his measures for vulnerable witnesses, experience of working with law associate telephoned me, I asked both in respect of evidence enforcement agencies. This lack on each occasion that they desist gathering and in giving evidence of experience proved to be a from contacting me, and address to a court. Arrange additional significant problem to us from an complaints to the trading standards support where needed, which evidential perspective manager. Immediately after each may include transport and other call, I made a record of exactly welfare arrangements. I arranged from the rogue. This is just the way what was said and forwarded this for door-to-door taxis for the they are shrug it off and get on with to my manager elderly witnesses who came to the your job was also given verbally and in writing Do not give in to pressure and threats