A former director of a home improvement company has received a suspended prison sentence following a prosecution for misleading customers across Devon and the wider region. Andrew Charles Parker, 59, of Aberfeldy, Scotland, was sentenced at Plymouth Crown Court on 5 May 2026 after five customers lost a combined total of £69,224 due to his company’s failing practices.
The case was brought by the Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service, which acts on behalf of local authorities including Devon, Plymouth, Somerset, and Torbay councils. The court heard that Parker, as the sole director of Affordable Home Improvements Ltd, continued to accept deposits from customers even when his personal circumstances hindered his ability to complete the work. The company went into liquidation in January 2024.
The issues reported by customers included false information regarding project delays, incomplete construction on conservatory bases, and claims that window frames had been ordered when they had not. Furthermore, the company was found to be using professional logos without authorization to imply accreditations they did not hold. Judge Matthew Turner noted that while the company did not begin with dishonest intentions, the business became severely mismanaged as Parker allowed desperate hope to overtake the reality of the situation.
As a result of his guilty plea, Parker was given a six-month jail sentence, suspended for 12 months. He has also been ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and is disqualified from acting as a company director for five years. Residents who have concerns about home improvement projects or require guidance on consumer rights can seek support from Citizens Advice.
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