Four south Wales people convicted of mortgage fraud have been banned from estate agency work, it has been confirmed.
The National Trading Standards Estate Agency Team have issued prohibition orders on the individuals.
Ben Pickering, Mark Cainen, Paul John and Emma Davey, all from south Wales, have all been prohibited from carrying out estate agency work after they were convicted of mortgage fraud in December 2014. They were part of a gang who falsified documents and applied for mortgages in various names.
Pickering was jailed for six years, Cainen for eight years and John for three year and four months while Davey was given 12 month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and 200 hours unpaid work.
The four will now be added to the Estate Agents Public Register, which provides details of individuals and/or businesses who are currently prohibited from engaging in estate agency work or who have received a formal warning under the Estate Agents Act 1979.
James Munro, Team Leader for the National Trading Standards Estates Agency Team, said: “Whilst Davey was the only one who was involved in estate agency work when she was convicted, it was decided that there could be a risk that they may wish to engage in estate agency work in the future and that they would not be considered fit to do so given their convictions.”
Cllr John Powell, Powys County Council’s Cabinet Member responsible for Trading Standards, said: "Since April 2014, we have been the UK lead enforcement authority for the Estate Agents Act 1979 and our role is to prohibit or warn individuals and/or businesses who are deemed to be unfit to engage in estate agency work.
"Section 3 of the Act allows the team to issue a prohibition where they are satisfied that a person has committed an offence involving fraud or other dishonesty, or violence.
"This should serve as a warning to estate agents and potential estate agents in the country that if they commit an offence involving fraud they could be added to the public register and prohibited from carrying out estate agency work."
Notes to Editors
For further information please contact:
Am fanylion pellach cysylltwch â:
Lee Evans,
Swyddog Cyfathrebu a'r Cyfryngau
Media and Communications Officer
Ffôn/Tel: 01597 826023
Ffôn Symudol/Mobile: 07769 640058
Ebost/Email: lee.evans@powys.gov.uk
About National Trading Standards
National Trading Standards provides leadership influence, support and resources to help combat consumer and business detriment locally, regionally and nationally.
- The National Trading Standards Board is a group of senior and experienced local government heads of trading standards, representing all trading standards services across England and Wales. The Board has been set up by the Government as part of changes to the consumer protection landscape and an enhanced role for trading standards.
- National Trading Standards funds the Scambuster Teams that target rogue trading, doorstep crime and scams, providing support across England and Wales through eight regionally based teams:
1.Central England Trading Standards Authorities (CeNTSA)
2.North East Trading Standards Authorities (NETSA)
3.Trading Standards East Midlands (TSEM)
4.Trading Standards North West (TSNW)
5.Tri Region Scambusters (TRS), on behalf of Trading Standards South East Ltd (TSSEL), East of England Trading Standards Association (EETSA) and London Trading Standards Association (LoTSA)
6.Trading Standards Partnership South West (SWERCOTS)
7.Yorkshire and Humber Trading Standards Group (YAHTSG) and
8.Wales Heads of Trading Standards (WHoTS)
There are separate arrangements in place in Scotland.
For more information please visit www.nationaltradingstandards.uk.