Caerphilly County Borough Council and Newport City Council Trading Standards lead prosecution to bring rogue trader to justice.
On Friday 9th December 2022, after pleading guilty to two offences relating to victims in Caerphilly and four similar charges relating to a victim in Newport, James Mochan was sentenced to two years imprisonment and ordered to pay £2,820 in compensation under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.
Mochan was originally charged with offences relating to two separate victims in CCBC, whereby he would introduce himself using the name James Morgan and offer to complete building/gardening works at their properties.
After demanding payment upfront, the works were left uncompleted or carried out to an unsafe standard.
Mochan’s victims who were vulnerable due to their age and medical difficulties, described Mochan as “very intimidating” and said in a statement “I paid him because I was frightened” “The moment he left, I called the police.”
One of Mochan’s victims had noted the registration number of his vehicle and reported the matter to Trading Standards, who identified him as James Andrew Mochan. The resident was also able to confirm from photos on his Facebook page that Mochan had carried out the work at their property.
On the March 20th 2022 Mochan was arrested in the Aberdare area by South Wales Police and interviewed by Trading Standards.
The judge on the case, Recorder Andrew Hammond, told Mochan: “You deliberately targeted vulnerable victims and you bullied them into compliance.
“You are a disgrace.”
Mochan subsequently pled guilty to two of the three charges and will now serve 2 years in prison.
Councillor Philippa Leonard, Cabinet Member for Planning & Public Protection said: “We are very pleased to know that justice has been served and that the victim’s of Mr Mochan’s crimes will be compensated.
“Well done and thank you to CCBC and Newport City Council’s Trading Standards on their participation with this case.”
