A North-East carpet fitter who left customers at least £33,000 out of pocket has been spared jail.
Christopher Lamb, 41, who traded as Mobile Flooring Store, in Whitley Bay, pleaded guilty to ten charges: two under the Fraud Act and eight of engaging in an unfair commercial practice under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.
Lamb, who operated online and via social media, would visit consumers’ home and show them samples, but according to the prosecution brought by North Tyneside Trading Standards, he failed to carry out any work on at least 10 occasions.
Newcastle Crown Court head that customers had paid £33,431.36.
Lamb was given a 12 month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and told to undertake 240 hours of unpaid community work and pay his victims compensation.
‘I have listened carefully to the statements of the victims. They have lost money they could ill afford to lose and in taking it from them you have had a profound impact on their lives. The other counts for fraud are an extension of your dishonest behaviour,’ he was told as he was sentenced.
