Middlesborough door salesman who admitted fraudulent trading warned over possibility of jail
John Rowe was subject of complaints to trading standards in Redcar and Cleveland
A door salesman who defrauded his customers has been warned he could face prison.
John Rowe was subject of complaints to trading standards in Redcar and Cleveland after taking payments for external doors which were then never supplied.
The 43-year-old, of Nantwich Close, Hemlington, Middlesbrough, who has a number of online businesses, admitted a charge of carrying on a business or company with intent to defraud creditors between May 1, 2022 and October 31, 2023.
The matter was prosecuted through a regional investigation team with Rowe due to be sentenced at Teesside Crown Court after his guilty plea.
However the lack of a pre-sentence report led to the case being adjourned by a judge, who agreed this was the best course of action to take.
The judge told the defendant, who was present in court, that it was a “serious matter” and all sentencing options, including custody, would be under consideration.
Rowe’s legal representative said he had a “significant” number of satisfied customers prior to 2022 and he was of previous good character.
Rowe, who was granted unconditional bail, is due to reappear at court for sentence on May 15.