'Rogue trader' spared prison

A TARMAC layer has been given a suspended jail sentence following an investigation by Neath Port Talbot Council trading standards officers into poor workmanship and rogue trader activities.

- STAFF REPORTER

Swansea Crown Court heard on July 21 that in July 2022, Neath Port Talbot residents received flyers advertising free quotations and 'no upfront payments' from tarmac drive specialists Jonathan Lewis Trading.

The court was told one customer agreed to pay £3,000 to have a driveway laid with tarmac.

The work was completed quickly and the trader was paid in cash.

Soon after, the customer noticed the quality of the work was poor and that the tarmac began to flake and chip and had started to spread into a public pathway.

A second customer contacted Jonathan Lewis Trading after receiving a flyer and requested a diamond pattern in the centre of a driveway, along with other works.

The complainant was quoted £8,000 if the work was carried out before January, otherwise it would have cost “£12,000 due to the cost of materials and staff”.

The complainant went ahead to save £4,000. The work was paid for via bank transfer.

The court heard the work was poor, the diamond was off-centre, paviours between the pavement and hard-standing were misaligned and there were 'distorted gaps'. Also, the work was never completed.