TWO rogue traders who targeted vulnerable victims, including a woman with dementia and a visually impaired man, have been warned they could be jailed.

Paul Towers, 37, of Verdun Road, Wibsey, Bradford, and 35-year-old Robert Morrison, of Lower Crow Nest Drive, Lightcliffe, today pleaded guilty at Leeds Crown Court to a number of charges under the Consumer Protection From Unfair Trading Regulations of 2008.

The pair were due to stand trial today after an investigation by West Yorkshire Trading Standards but pleaded guilty to offences of engaging in unfair commercial practices.

Towers admitted a total of ten joint charges, while Morrison pleaded guilty to 12 offences.

Both men pleaded not guilty to three charges of fraud and one of fraudulent trading. Those pleas were accepted by the prosecution.

Nine of the charges alleged engaging in an unfair commercial practice which contravened requirements of professional diligence. They included entering into a contract with a man with a significant visual impairment, who was unable to read, for work to be undertaken on his driveway. Another charge involved entering into a contract with a woman with dementia for work to be undertaken on her driveway.

Other charges covered offences of failing to honour guarantees offered to customers; failing to provide adequate foundations to a woman’s drive which was unable to support the weight of a motor vehicle; representing to customers that their product for a new driveway was anti-slip; failing to return deposits owed to customers who had cancelled contracts within the 14-day legal period; and failing to inform a woman customer of her right to cancel her contract within the 14-day cooling off period.

Two of the charges alleged the defendants had been misleading and made a misleading omission. Morrison also pleaded guilty to a charge of being aggressive in informing a woman the balance of money for work on her drive was due, even though the work had not been completed.

Barrister Ian Jobling, for Morrison, asked for sentencing to be adjourned for a probation report. He said his client was the primary carer for his 12-year-old son, who would be affected by any sentence. Charles Blatchford, representing Towers, said his client was of previous good character, and also asked for a pre-sentence report.

Adjourning sentence until March 3, Judge James Spencer QC granted both men bail on condition of residence. But he said that was no indication of sentence, and all option, including imprisonment, were available to the court.

He “strongly advised” Morrison to investigate alternative arrangements for the care of his child.

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