Mumtaz Ali, 47, gave a quote to a customer while he was contracted to Shropshire Home Improvements, was later released by the company, then took a call from a customer accepting the quote.
Telford Magistrates Court heard on Thursday that when the customer phoned up the company expecting the job to be done, they had to take the financial hit and do the work themselves. The court heard a statement from a Ben Shaw, director of Shropshire Home Improvements, who said that the company hired Ali in August of 2021."Then, on December 7 of 2021 we got contacted by a [company] saying that they were expecting us to start work with them."There was a quote given for £3,480, and an initial deposit of £1,500."They gave him a deposit for £1,500 which was put into his personal account.
Ali, of Charolais Crescent in Lightwood, Stoke-on-Trent, pocketed £2,700 towards the 'work', although he paid £800 back soon after the deception was discovered."I'm out of pocket for £1,900. I can ill afford to pay this in the current climate."