A TRADER from Semington stands accused of dishonestly defrauding a Limpley Stoke resident by charging thousands for guttering work “of such poor quality that it had no value.”
A Swindon Crown Court judge has requested a one-day hearing to find out whether Joseph Patrick Ward, 25, is fit to stand trial - with a date yet to be set.

Mr Ward, of Greenacres Mobile Park at Semington, faces five charges brought by Wiltshire Council trading standards department in relation to replacement guttering work carried out on a property at Crowe Hill in Limpley Stoke in April 2019.

They are:

• That on April 5 2019 he dishonestly failed to disclose information to a resident, namely a 14-day right to cancel a £4,500 contract for the replacement of guttering, this being information in the form of a written notice which he was under a legal duty to disclose, intending by that failure to make a gain for himself.

• Between April 5 2019 and April 10 2019 at Limpley Stoke, he carried out replacement guttering work of such poor quality that it had no value and fell short of that expected from a competent contractor.

• Between April 5 2019 and April 10 2019 at Limpley Stoke, being a trader, engaged in a commercial practice which was a misleading action in that it contained false information and was therefore untruthful, in that he charged £4,500 for facia work carried out to the front of the property at Crowe Hill, Limpley Stoke, this practice being unfair and a misleading action as to the price of the work, when the value of the work carried out in a professional manner was estimated to be £1,229 plus VAT and it caused or was likely to have caused the average consumer to take a transactional decision he would not have taken otherwise.

• That on April 5 2019 at Limpley Stoke he concealed, disguised, converted, transferred or removed criminal property, namely the sum of £3,000, by arranging for it to be paid into the bank account of Bridget Ward.

• That on April 10 2019 at Limpley Stoke he concealed, disguised, converted, transferred or removed criminal property, namely the sum of £1,500, by arranging it to be paid into the bank account of Bridget Ward.

Mr Ward pleaded not guilty to all five charges and was sent for trial at Swindon Crown Court on October 15. On January 11, lawyers were still deciding whether he was fit to plead, having received reports from experts.

In the meantime, Mr Ward is remanded on bail and must live and sleep each night at Greenacres Mobile Park. He was also ordered not to interfere with witnesses or otherwise obstruct the course of justice.

His co-defendant, Bridget Mary Ward, 31, of Greenacres Mobile Park, Semington, was also sent for Crown Court trial in Swindon, having pleaded not guilty on October 15 to a single charge that between April 5 2019 and April 10 2019 at Limpley Stoke she used or had possession of criminal property, namely funds to the total sum of £4,500 received from a resident, knowing or suspecting it to represent in whole or in part and whether directly or indirectly the proceeds of criminal conduct.

Swindon magistrates directed trial by jury. She was remanded on unconditional bail. Her trial will take place when lawyers agree a trial date for Mr Ward.