A Plymouth businessman defrauded customers out of thousands of pounds through his solar installation company.
Neil James Pardon was found to have misled customers and pocketed deposits with little to no intention of carrying out the solar panel installations he promised.
Pardon was found guilty of fraudulent trading but escaped a prison sentence.
'De facto director' promised installations without buying materials
Pardon operated a fraudulent scheme under the guise of running Springfield Energy Saving Installations Ltd (SESI), enticing customers with promises of solar energy solutions.
Acting as the "de facto director", Pardon lured customers with assurances that materials were being ordered and installation work would begin imminently.
Victims, eager to embrace renewable energy, paid substantial deposits totalling £92,620. However, Trading Standards investigations revealed that no materials were ever purchased and despite repeated follow-ups, customers were met with delays, excuses and lies.
Mounting complaints and investigations
Pardon's fraudulent actions were exposed following a wave of complaints from frustrated customers, some of whom had paid over £20,000 for solar panel installations that never commenced.
A Trading Standards investigation revealed a troubling pattern of deception. Customers were misled with excuses about delays attributed to external factors, while others were fed outright lies about progress.
One victim, a disabled woman, paid £11,000 for panels that were never even ordered. She stated: "I feel completely betrayed. The company promised me a complete installation, but it never materialised. I still can’t understand how someone could take my money and leave me in this situation."
A couple who had paid £16,871 also shared their frustration: "We were told our system was being installed in stages. But after waiting for months and months with no communication, it became clear we’d been lied to. They just took our money and never did any of the work."
Trial, outcome and punishment
At Plymouth Crown Court, Neil James Pardon admitted to fraudulent trading under the Companies Act.
The court heard that he had repeatedly filed for bankruptcy and misused customer funds to sustain his failing business. Judge Robert Linford sentenced him to a 16-month prison term, suspended for two years, and imposed a five-year ban on serving as a company director.
While Pardon avoided immediate imprisonment due to his caregiving responsibilities, the judge underscored that such fraudulent behaviour would typically result in a prison sentence but avoided a prison sentence because he is a caregiver to his wife, who suffers from type 1 diabetes, failing eyesight and anxiety.
Judge Linford made clear that: "Such fraudulent behaviour, had it not been for the personal circumstances of the defendant, would typically result in a custodial sentence. However, in light of his responsibilities as a caregiver, the sentence has been suspended."
A Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) order was issued to recover losses and compensate victims where possible.
