A rogue trader who charged elderly victims thousands of pounds for substandard work has been sentenced for fraud. 

Levi Davies of Manor Park in Kidlington appeared at Reading Crown Court on Thursday (October 13) following a Thames Valley Police and Reading Borough Council Trading Standards investigation.

Offences carried out by the 24-year-old took place between August 2016 and March 2019 against six victims, men and women aged between 50 and 75.

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He committed the offences under his company operating as LJ Building Services and then Manor Park Property Services.

Davies persuaded his victims to employ him to carry out building or maintenance work at their home addresses in Reading, Woodstock, Oxford and Plymouth.

He charged them excessive prices for substandard and unnecessary work with one victim was over charged in the region of £60,000.

Davies was arrested on 23 July 2019.

In court he was sentenced to two years imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.

He previously pleaded guilty to one count of fraud by representation as well as offences under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.

Davies is also required to undertake 250 hours of unpaid work, pay £2,000 in costs and a Compensation Order of £66,560.

Case Investigator Chris Birkitt, based at Reading police station, said: “Davies has been convicted of offences where he has deliberately targeted elderly and vulnerable victims.

“Much of the work he carried out was unnecessary and poor quality. One of the victims he called on over a period of three years persuading her to have more work carried out.

“The victims have shown great courage in coming forward and supporting the prosecution by being prepared to give evidence.

“Davies showed little in the way of remorse leaving it until the second day of his trial to plead guilty.

“As a result of money being seized from his home address following his arrest the victims will receive some financial compensation but the emotional effects of his offending is likely to remain with them.”

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This story was written by Sophie Perry. She joined the team in 2021 as a digital reporter.

You can get in touch with her by emailing: sophie.perry@newsquest.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter @itssophieperry

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