Unfair trading results in 10 month’s prison sentence

Liam Wilkinson, aged 25 of Eastbourne Road, Darlington paid a total £8,095 compensation for his victims, ahead of appearing in court on 30 October 2025 when he pleaded guilty to two offences. He was then sentenced on Friday 16 January 2026.

City of York Council’s Trading Standards officers began investigating Mr Wilkinson’s activities in August 2024 after receiving complaints about his business, Brit-Plas.

Brit-Plas leaflets were dropped around the city offering to replace UPVC guttering for a "genuine quotation" of £1,295. The leaflet claimed Brit-Plas is Yorkshire’s leading roofline specialists and “only when you are completely satisfied do you make the final payment.”

The leaflet advertised this price to “recess your old wooden fascias, bargeboards, gutters and downpipes and replace them with new UPVC ventilated soffits, new UPVC fascias, new bargeboards and new guttering and downpipe system”. The leaflet offered free scaffolding and a 15-year guarantee.

Four customers complained that when additional work was found to be required on their homes, it significantly increased the price. They said that the work completed was poor quality, and that their properties were left in a mess and were damaged because scaffolding wasn't used as promised. After heavy rain, the customers found the new guttering leaked badly.

An expert employed by Trading Standards found that the promises made by the trader, as set out in the marketing material, had not been delivered. They said that the approach to costing and execution of the work was most unprofessional, and aimed to mislead householders into believing that quality work would be delivered at a reasonable price. Despite the guarantee, the work had been found to have a more limited life, and some areas had already started failing. The workmanship fell below the standard normally expected.

One customer described how they were repeatedly harassed for payment after the work had been completed. Workmen came to their house, banged on the window, shouted and swore.

Cllr Jenny Kent, Executive Member for Environment at City of York Council, said

Complaints about roofing and household repairs continue to top Trading Standards list and this is a particularly worrying case. We should be able to trust tradespeople to do good work on our homes, and prices should be honoured and not inflated to extortionate levels. Harassment is unacceptable and this case demonstrates how seriously the courts take these matters.

“We urge consumers to get a few quotes from recommended traders, follow personal recommendations and look into companies as much as before agreeing to any work.”

To share your concerns about poor quality workmanship, please call Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice Consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133.