Trading Standards enforcement
We enforce over 80 parliamentary Acts and 2,000 supporting pieces of legislation. Read our legislation enforced list for further details.
In doing so we recognise that while most people want to comply with legal requirements, some will operate outside the law (both intentionally and unintentionally).
We adopt a staged approach to enforcement, with advice and informal action fully explored to resolve the matter in the first instance. However we will consider taking immediate formal action for serious breaches. All enforcement work is undertaken in accordance with our Compliance and Enforcement Policy.
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Sentencing of Rogue Trader
Sentencing for a Trading Standards prosecution, took place at Norwich Magistrates Court on Thursday, 5 February 2026.
Further to the prosecution, Mr Paul Mulford of Norwich, trading as Auto Park Norwich, was sentenced to pay:
- a £500 fine,
- a £200 victim surcharge and
- £5000 in prosecution costs
for one offence under the General Product Safety Regulations of supplying of a dangerous product, namely a motor vehicle.
Mr Mulford attended trial at Norwich Magistrates Court on 15 December 2025 and was found guilty by District Judge Bone of the General Product Safety Regulations offence. Mr Mulford had admitted that he did not carry out sufficient checks before
his vehicles were listed on his website or priced on the forecourt.
The sale of second-hand cars continues to be one of the most complained about sectors in Norfolk and nationally. Trading Standards Officers had visited Auto Park Norwich in 2024, with an expert vehicle examiner as part of a local initiative to
inspect vehicles to identify any that were unsafe or dangerous. Checks were also made on the descriptions of the vehicles against information displayed on business selling platforms. Auto Park Norwich was selected for this operation by Norfolk
Trading Standards due to the level of complaints previously received regarding vehicles offered for sale from the premises.
In sentencing Mr Mulford, District Judge Bone praised the Trading Standards team for their hard work on the investigation
Trading Standards Prosecution
On 15 December 2025, a trial at Norwich Magistrates' Court heard the case of Mr Paul Mulford, trading as Auto Park Norwich who, as the defendant, had pleaded not guilty to offences concerning two vehicles found on his premises to be unroadworthy; one of which was also found to be in a dangerous condition.
Trading Standards Officers had visited Auto Park Norwich in 2024 with an expert vehicle examiner as part of a local initiative to inspect vehicles to identify any that were unsafe or dangerous. Checks were also made on the descriptions of the vehicles against information displayed on business sellingplatforms. Auto Park Norwich was selected for this operation by Norfolk Trading Standards due to the level of complaints previously received regarding vehicles offered for sale from the premises.
During the visit, two vehicles were inspected by the vehicle examiner, a Ford Galaxy and a Peugeot 3008. The Ford Galaxy was found to be dangerous and unroadworthy, and the Peugeot 3008 was found to be unroadworthy. Subsequent engineer reports provided full details of the faults and confirmed that they were in a dangerous and/or unroadworthy condition. The vehicles had also been noted as being offered for sale on the Auto Park Norwich online selling platform.
The trial was presided by District Judge Bone. His judgment was as follows:
- 2 x offences for the supply of an unroadworthy vehicle (Road Traffic Act 1988) - not guilty; and
- 1 offence for the supply of a dangerous product (General Product Safety Regulations 2005) - guilty.
The judge accepted the evidence of the defendant in relation to the statutory defence under the Road Traffic Act, that being that he took all reasonable steps to ensure that any prospective purchaser would be aware that the vehicles use in its current condition on a road would be unlawful. This was based on the defendant's 'appointment only' business model, a policy that he stated ensured that cars were checked and issues remedied before a sale took place. He also produced a notice on the day of the trial (not previously seen by the prosecution) which he said was on display on the premises and which explained and supported this position. However, this business model was found to be insufficient for the requirement to not supply (or expose or possess for supply) a dangerous product, and the Court found Mr Mulford guilty of the General Product Safety Regulations offence. This was due to the fact Mr Mulford admitted that he did not carry out sufficient checks before his vehicles were listed on his website or priced on the forecourt.
Sentencing was adjourned until 5 February 2026, with the Court requesting trading accounts for previous 3 years and evidence of bank statements and income to be provided.
Sentencing of Rogue Trader
At Norwich Crown Court on 3 November 2025, James Morgan of Harleston, Norfolk (formerly of Kirstead, Norfolk), was sentenced to 52 months (i.e. 4 years & 4 months) imprisonment for ten offences of theft against his customers, with a further 2 offences taken into consideration.
Mr Morgan was also handed a Criminal Behaviour Order, banning him from taking up-front payment for building works. This order will remain in force unless or until the Court orders it to be revoked.
He was also disqualified from being a company director for 10 years.
Mr Morgan worked as a sole trader offering building and home improvement and maintenance services. His company was Prestige Home Improvement (East Anglia) Limited. Between 2021 and 2024 this Service received complaints relating to work booked by several customers across Norfolk due to be carried out by Mr Morgan.
The combined works, for which Mr Morgan took payments of over £200,000, were either never started or not completed by him.
Trading Standards have also started confiscation proceedings with a view to trying to recover compensation for victims and investigation costs for Norfolk County Council.
Misleading Flyer Alert
Norfolk Trading Standards are warning consumers after receiving reports of flyers being hand delivered offering roofing work. Most recently these flyers have been distributed in the NR2 area of Norwich.
The flyer (see figure 1 below) claims to be from 'New Norfolk Roofs & Gutters Ltd' and states an office address in Norwich. Following checks we can confirm this limited company name does not exist on Companies House records and the address given has no connection with this business and has been used without the permission of the property's owner.
Figure 1 is a flyer with a logo at the top. The logo is a yellow house containing a canary standing on a football. The text on the logo is: 'NEW NORFOLK Roofs & Gutters Ltd'.
Please Note: this information is related to this business name only; it is not connected to any other business with a similar name.
Our advice when looking to have work done on or around your property is only deal with reputable companies you have researched and chosen yourself and have obtained a written quotation from.
Anyone concerned about possible doorstep cold caller activity in Norfolk can contact us through our partners the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on freephone 0808 223 1133.
Rogue Business Alert
Norfolk Trading Standards are warning businesses and consumers not to use an online business's website which purports to be based in Norfolk.
Norfolk Trading Standards have received several complaints about Liquid Essences who run a website www.liquidessences.co. The business is thought to be operated from outside of the UK but uses a fictitious Norfolk address to give the impression that it is UK based. All attempts to contact the business have failed.
It appears that they are selling ethanol, claiming that it is food grade. Food grade ethanol is alcohol that is intended for human consumption, and as such must meet certain quality standards.
Food grade ethanol is typically used as a base for distilled spirits like vodka, gin and liqueurs.
Norfolk Trading Standards have sampled this product from Liquid Essences and had it analysed, it is not food grade, it is a medical product.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency have informed Norfolk Trading standards that the product is a medicinal product for skin disinfection. Furthermore, it is not licensed in the UK and should not be sold in the UK.
Consumers should stop using this product and dispose of safely. Businesses should stop using this product and dispose of safely and inform Norfolk Trading Standards if you have used this product to make any food or drink products.
You can contact us via our partners the Citizens Advice helpline online via their website or by calling 0808 223 1133 (freephone).
You can also report other scams to Action Fraud, the UK national fraud office, using their online fraud reporting tool or by calling 0300 123 2040.
