11 January 2024 , 12:03
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An electrician who lied about his qualifications has been ordered to pay around £13,000 in fines and compensation.
Robbie Tomlinson, 29, from Scunthorpe, admitted four offences of fraudulent trading after saying he could carry out specialist electrical work that he wasn't certified for. His business, WHJ Building Solutions Ltd, was also prosecuted by North Lincolnshire Council trading standards for being in breach of consumer protection of unfair trading regulations.
The work carried out by Tomlinson was in the north Lincolnshire area and further afield in Leeds. Grimsby Crown Court heard it was of such poor quality, other electricians had to be paid by customers to carry out work properly. Prosecuting, Robin Kingham said a plasterer suffered an electric shock due to faulty wiring caused by Tomlinson's shoddy work and he was fortunately not seriously hurt.
And the electrician allegedly took money up front from customers while failing to complete the work in a period from 2019 to 2020. He also claimed to be registered with a "Competent Person Scheme" but that wasn't true.
Several customers were listed who were left with wiring "in a mess" and had to get competent electricians in to finish the job off. A number of clients were promised certificates for work carried out or for inspections but they never materialised. Mr Kingham said the defendant's website and livery on his van claimed falsely that he was registered to carry out specialist inspection work.
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One landlord, with 11 properties, asked for certificates for electrical wiring, but not all were forthcoming. In June 2022, he was interviewed by North Lincolnshire Council trading officers and said he was qualified, reported Grimsby Live.
Tomlinson claimed he had a "gold card" with the Joint Industry Board, "but that was not true," said Mr Kingham, who stated the total loss to six clients was £12,824 because they had to get other electricians to do the work properly.
For Tomlinson, Sarah Barlow said her client is a trained and qualified electrician and submitted references from his partner, a satisfied customer and a friend. "He has done satisfactory work throughout his career. He's not a rogue trader," she said. She added: "He let his desire to succeed overtake his capability. He tried to make the best of himself, but got it very wrong indeed."
She told how his partner undergoes dialysis for a kidney complaint and would need his support if she got a successful transplant. The defence barrister said her client does work for police installing CCTV camera systems and for North Lincolnshire Council.
Recorder Anthony Dunne said Tomlinson had risked customers and those visiting the properties by carrying out "incomplete and sub-standard work", while he had failed to refund money for certificates. He said it was deliberate and Tomlinson had lied to customers over a prolonged period.
"Fortunately your incomplete work was corrected before anyone was hurt," the Recorder added. He fined Tomlinson £100 and ordered him to pay a total of £12,824 in compensation to the customers. A 12-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, was also imposed and he was ordered to do 120 hours of unpaid work in the community.
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