North Yorkshire Man Jailed for £25K Solar Panel Scam
A Middlesbrough man has been jailed for two years and eight months after scamming customers out of nearly £25,000 in a fraudulent solar panel scheme.
34-year-old Sean Berry, director of SB Electrical Security and Solutions Limited, took upfront payments for electrical work and solar panel installations but never completed the jobs. Customers paid up to 50% deposits, yet no materials were delivered, no work was done, and no refunds were issued.
Multiple Victims Across the Region
Berry’s fraudulent activities affected victims in Easingwold, Whitby, Middlesbrough, Hull, and County Durham, prompting an investigation by North Yorkshire Council Trading Standards.
One victim from Shildon, County Durham, expressed relief at Berry’s sentencing:
“SB Electrical took away my faith in tradesmen. Sean Berry manipulated, lied, and took advantage of me. I’m glad justice has prevailed.”
Court Sentencing & Business Ban
Berry appeared at York Crown Court on February 26, where he pleaded guilty to:
Four counts of fraud by false representation
Five counts of unfair commercial practices under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008
He was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison for fraud, with concurrent eight-month sentences for unfair trading offenses.
Berry also received one day in custody for failing to attend a previous sentencing hearing and was banned from being a company director for 10 years.
Increase in Similar Scams
North Yorkshire Council has reported a rise in scams like Berry’s, where traders take upfront payments but fail to deliver.
Councillor Greg White, executive member for trading standards, warned:
“Traders who mislead consumers into paying large sums and provide nothing in return will not be tolerated. We advise struggling tradespeople to communicate honestly with customers rather than disappearing or making excuses.”
This case serves as a strong warning to fraudulent traders and a reminder for consumers to verify businesses before making large payments.
