LoginRogue Builder Jailed for 12 Months
A trader who left work half finished after taking the money has been given a 12-month sentence.
Journal of Trading Standards Staff
Posted 23 June 2025 | JoTS Online
Content Tags: Updates|Crime|National
A builder who abandoned jobs halfway through despite being paid in full has been given a 12-month custodial sentence after an investigation and prosecution by West Berkshire Council’s Shared Trading Standards Service.
John Arnold (39) of Alderfield Close, Theale, was the subject of four separate complaints by local residents about incomplete and poor quality work in their homes.
According to West Berkshire Council, victims suffered – and continue to suffer – a high degree of harm and stress as a result of the poor quality of the building and electrical work undertaken by Arnold, which left them concerned about their safety of living in their properties.
Significant sums of money, in the region of £125k-£160k, were taken from the complainants and all four properties will require significant remedial works to be undertaken.
This sentence sends a strong message that these sorts of crimes do not go unpunished
Arnold had previous convictions from 2021 for similar offences in which he left three victims with live cables exposed in their properties.
On 4 June at Reading Crown Court, Arnold and his Company, ACL Building and Maintenance Ltd, who had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing, were sentenced for having committed four offences under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.
Arnold had also previously pleaded guilty to two counts on an indictment of using a false instrument – an offence under section 3 of the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981 – after he supplied one consumer with a false electrical and building control certificate.
He was given a 12-month custodial sentence to be served immediately, and banned for acting as a company director for 10 years. A confiscation timetable under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 was also set.
Councillor Tom McCann, Portfolio Holder for Public Safety at West Berkshire Council, said: “We welcome this conviction. This sentence sends a strong message that these sorts of crimes do not go unpunished. I would like to thank all of the officers involved in this case for their work in bringing this case to this point. Exploiting our residents is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. I would especially like to thank the witnesses for coming forward for working with our officers to see this matter through.”
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Content Tags: Updates|Crime|National
