Rogue trader ordered to pay customers over £6,000 in compensation and court costs
Danny Hughes also received a suspended prison sentence at Truro Magistrates Court.
A rogue trader has been ordered by Magistrates to pay more than £6,000 in compensation and court costs for misleading his customers. This follows a successful prosecution by the Trading Standards team at Cornwall Council.
Danny Alan Hughes, who traded as Southwest Tree Care, appeared at Truro Magistrates’ Court last Wednesday having previously pleaded guilty to three Unfair Trading offences and one offence of Fraud.
The investigation into Hughes began after customers complained saying he has cold-called at their property. They also complained about the standard of work he carried out.
The court heard how 28-year-old Hughes knocked on the doors of three properties in the Helston area in May and June 2024, offering the residents gardening and tree cutting services.
He falsely claimed that he'd worked on adjoining properties and that he had been referred by their neighbours.
Hughes failed to provide the cancellation information, that's required by law, denying customers the opportunity to change their mind and cancel the contract. He also misled customers into signing a legal waiver to allow work to start immediately, whilst falsely claiming that they were simply signing a waste transfer note.
The Magistrates noted that Hughes had previous convictions from North and East Devon Magistrates’ Court for similar offences. Hughes was sentenced to 24 weeks imprisonment, suspended for one year.
Hughes was also ordered by the Magistrates to pay compensation to two of his customers, totalling £2,140, as well as a £150 victim surcharge. Cornwall Council was awarded full costs of £3,910.30.
Councillor Thalia Marrington, the cabinet member with responsibility for Community Wellbeing and Public Health at Cornwall Council, said: “This manipulative individual deliberately deceived his customers and tricked them into waiving their right to cancel."
“No traders should pressurise or mislead customers in this way."
“I’m pleased that the victims in this case are being compensated and hope this prosecution serves as a warning to others that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated in Cornwall.”