A rogue carpenter has been prosecuted and ordered to pay costs of more than £1,300 after failing to deliver goods to a Dudley consumer.

In a case brought to court by Dudley Council’s trading standards, Richard Clive Jenks of Walker Avenue in Brierley Hill pleaded guilty to two offences under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations.

The case was heard at Dudley Magistrates’ Court on November 1. Jenks who traded as Richard Jenks Carpentry at the time the offences took place, took a deposit of £710 from a Dudley consumer after agreeing to buy and fit a new composite door at their home address.

Jenks didn’t deliver the door and failed to refund the consumer despite several requests from them and their family. He also refused to answer phone calls and made no attempt to resolve the matter.

A complaint was made to trading standards and as a result he was summonsed to appear in court in relation to the allegations. He failed to attend court and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He was arrested under the terms of the warrant on October 31 2023 and appeared in court the following day.

He was fined £120 for each offence and ordered to pay £710 in compensation to the consumer and £395 costs to the council, all within 28 days. Councillor Ian Bevan, cabinet member responsible for trading standards, said:

"It never ceases to amaze me what rogue traders think they will get away with. In this case, the tradesman thought he could take the money and run, but thanks to the consumer reporting this, we were able to take action on their behalf and stop him in his tracks."

Dudley Council runs the Fix-A-Home scheme which carries a list of reputable tradespeople to carry out maintenance in homes."