Suffolktradingstandards's Blog

On 20th January 2015 it was held that James Maydon, trading as Natural Fencing, Dales Road, Fressingfield, Eye, Suffolk, IP21 5RL, had breached an Undertaking under the Enterprise Act 2002, which was obtained by Suffolk County Council Trading Standards on 10^th March 2014.

If any consumer requires advice regarding their rights or has complaints about the trading of Mr Maydon or Natural Fencing, please contact the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 03454 04 05 06.

Details and Background to Enforcement action – In 2012 Suffolk Trading Standards received a number of consumer complaints about the business Natural Fencing. These complaints included issues such as failure to deliver goods, complaints over the supply and installation of goods, failure to refund deposits when consumers cancelled their contracts and misleading information provided by the business.

Extensive advice was given to the business. After failed attempts to work with Mr Maydon to achieve compliance, on 10 March 2014 Suffolk Trading Standards obtained an Undertaking against Mr James Maydon, the owner of Natural Fencing. The undertaking required Mr Maydon to comply with certain pieces of consumer protection legislation from 10 March 2014, including legislation that covered his failings above.

One of the provisions of the undertaking was that Mr Maydon must ensure that the information he supplies to consumers is true and accurate and does not mislead or deceive them in relation to the delivery of goods. Suffolk Trading Standards received information from consumers after this date that they had not received the goods or a response to their complaints. A number of consumers provided evidence that they had telephoned and written to Mr Maydon about their complaint between March 2014 and January 2015 and did not receive a response to their complaints.

Other provisions of the undertaking were that Mr Maydon must supply and install goods within a reasonable period of time and must not trade in a manner that contravenes professional diligence.

On 20 January 2015 at Ipswich County Court it was held that Mr Maydon had breached the Undertaking to the court and an Enforcement Order was issued.

Should Mr Maydon fail to comply with the order he can be prosecuted for contempt of court, for which he could face a custodial sentence.

Upon issuing the Enforcement Order, the judge stated:

“You have conned consumers, got away with bankruptcy and started trading again”

The order applies to Mr Maydon personally in any trading capacity and is not limited to Natural Fencing. Following being made bankrupt in May 2014 Mr Mayden is continuing to trade as Natural Fencing, although the business is owned by another individual.

Hemen Adalat, 29, of Star Lane, Ipswich, has been ordered to pay £100,157.67 by 19 July this year, or face a two year prison sentence if he fails to do so. He must also pay cost of £11,142.

Suffolk Trading Standards, who took the case, have also been awarded Adalat’s Jaguar XJ Luxury which is to remain in their possession until the full amount has been paid.

The sum of £100,157.67 was reached as Adalat was unable to account for the earnings being made from legitimate business.

Colin Spence, Suffolk County Council’s cabinet member for public protection said:

“Trading Standards have been a driving force to secure this confiscation and I am pleased that Mr Adalat has been sentenced. The Proceeds of Crime Act is a very powerful tool which gives us the opportunity to target and tackle criminals, and make them pay for their crimes.

“This case serves to show why it is important for Suffolk residents to become aware of the tactics used by scammers to dupe them out of their hard earned cash.”

Last year, Mr Adalat was found guilty of 2 counts of fraud and 3 counts of money laundering. During sentencing, Judge John Devaux called Mr Adalat a “deeply dishonest man” who played on the claim that he couldn’t speak English even though during two hours of interviews he could express himself clearly.

Adalat took thousands of pounds from his victim who answered an advert on Auto Trader and was unknowingly brought into Adalat’s web of deception.

In 2012, his victim reported that they felt they had been tricked into buying a “clocked” vehicle, and a Trading Standards investigation was launched. A BMW 3 Series had been advertised with a mileage of nearly 40,000 miles, a £7,500 price tag, and one female previous owner, as well as various other statements.

However, Trading Standards found evidence to show that the mileage of the vehicle had been lowered by over 100,000 miles.

Hemen Adalat was sentenced to 3 months in prison, suspended for 18 months.

If you are concerned about a purchase you have made, please report details to Trading Standards on 03454 040506.