A fraudster who defrauded elderly and vulnerable residents of £1.5 million for renewable energy and home safety products has been sentenced to seven years in prison, along with a ten-year ban on holding directorships.
Robin MacDonald, 45, from Bretby, Burton-on-Trent, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and charges of fraudulent trading after a five-month trial at Nottingham Crown Court, where over 200 victims provided evidence.
Between 2014 and 2015, MacDonald mis-sold products including solar panels and emergency medical buttons through his companies, Sunpower Renewables Ltd and Stirling Technologies Ltd, trading as Proshield Alarms. Victims were pressured into signing contracts for products that were often delivered poorly, sometimes creating structural instability in their homes.
The prosecution stemmed from an investigation by the National Trading Standards Regional Investigations Team East Midlands, hosted by Nottinghamshire County Council, with support from Derbyshire County Council Trading Standards.
MacDonald’s businesses promised safety and energy efficiency but misled customers through false statements and aggressive sales tactics. A second defendant was acquitted of the same charges.
Roy Hancher, 54, of Wolverhampton, pleaded guilty to fraudulent trading before the trial and received a suspended sentence of one year and eight months, along with a six-year directorship ban. Nicola Mather, 44, of Derby, pleaded guilty to money laundering and was sentenced to one year in prison, suspended for one year, along with 200 hours of community service.
Mark Walker, Interim Service Director for Place at Nottinghamshire County Council, praised the victims for their courage in coming forward, stating, “These sentences show that dishonest selling of products will not be tolerated.” He urged residents to be vigilant against cold calls and scams, encouraging them to report suspicious activity.
Lord Michael Bichard, Chair of National Trading Standards, expressed hope that the sentences would provide solace to the victims and serve as a deterrent to others considering similar fraudulent actions.