A COMPANY director from Almondsbury has been jailed for more than three years after admitting to fraud and using underhand tactics to get work.

Jim Coffey, 34, of Over Lane, was sentenced to three years and four months after appearing at Bristol Crown Court on Tuesday.

Coffey is the sole director of Interlock Drives Ltd, registered to an address in Warmley, and had previously pleaded guilty to six charges, two under the Fraud Act and four under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations Act. The company also pleaded guilty to the same six charges.

The four-month part of Coffey’s sentence was for a breach of a previous conditional discharge.

As well as the prison sentence Coffey was also disqualified for 12 years from being a company director and was ordered to pay costs of £15,000 and compensation totalling £5,795 to victims.

In May Bristol Crown Court heard how during 2009 and 2010, homeowners in Bristol and South Gloucestershire were pressured into having unnecessary or unwanted work carried out on their properties and in some cases started work without the agreement of the householder.

Customers were also not provided with notices of their legal rights of cancellation by Coffey and his company.

Trading standards officers from both South Gloucestershire Council and Bristol City Council received complaints about Interlock Drives Ltd and Coffey, and worked with Avon and Somerset police to bring the case to court.

Senior Trading Standards enforcement officer for South Gloucestershire Council, Neil Derrick, said: "Our investigation revealed a string of dishonest dealings and bullying, largely aimed at people they considered to be more vulnerable.

"The victims of these crimes have been left frightened and intimidated in their own homes.

"The advice is clear - there are considerable risks in obtaining services from people who cold-call at your home and householders are strongly advised to only use companies they know and trust and whose services they actively seek out."

Consumer Direct provides help and advice on most consumer issues and can be contacted on 0845 404 05 06.