A ROGUE-trader has been sentenced to five years in prison, after he was prosecuted for defrauding people out of thousands of pounds through his building companies.

Wayne Smith, aged 47, of Doncaster Road, Barnsley, who targeted customers across west Cheshire, was sentenced in Sheffield Crown Court on Thursday, June 30.

The prosecution, which was led by Sheffield Trading Standards, assisted by Cheshire West and Chester Trading Standards, focused on a period between 2013 and 2014, during which Smith conned customers in west Cheshire, as well as south Cheshire and Sheffield, out of an estimated £170,000.

The investigation began following complaints from customers against his businesses ‘Build 4 Ltd’ and ‘Constellation Construction Ltd’.

Smith, a disqualified director and undischarged bankrupt, managed and ran the companies, amassing large debts with suppliers and misleading customers about his services.

One victim was left living in a guest house after paying more than £37,000 to Smith when he left her without a water supply and with only one working electrical socket in her three-bedroom house. Another victim paid Smith £13,480 for a new kitchen which was never installed; a further £11,000 had to be paid to other tradesmen to complete the works.

Cllr Karen Shore, cabinet member for environment, said: “We congratulate our officers, their colleagues and South Yorkshire Police for their work over a considerable period of time that has finally led to the imprisonment of this rogue trader.

“We are grateful to all the west Cheshire residents who came forward to help us secure this conviction and prevent others from the same fate.”

Smith was also banned for 12 years from being a company director.