New consumer powers have been used by trading standards officials to bring a rogue trader to heel.

Pensioners in Eastbourne and Bexhill complained to East Sussex County Council trading standards about Darren Jackson, who trades as Unique Driveways and has also been linked with another firm called Clean Machine Property Preservation Ltd.

Jackson had failed to cooperate with trading standards and refused to sign a formal written agreement stopping his problem behaviour.

But the enforcement notice handed to him at Eastbourne County Court compels him to stop cold calling and to honour contracts.

If he fails to comply with the order, trading standards officials said he could face further court action and possibly jail.

Community services councillor Bob Tidy said: "Our trading standards officers have these new powers under the Enterprise Act and intend to use them against the minority of traders who prey on the vulnerable and refuse to stop causing misery to their customers.

"The vast majority of traders in the home improvements business are honest and are as fed up as we are with the minority who flout the law and give everyone a bad name."

Thursday, December 1, 2005