Hadleigh victim of dishonest trader Alex Sparkes speaks out

Alex Sparkes, 28, of Bourchier Close, Hadleigh, pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation at Ipswich Magistrates Court on November 1.

Alex Sparkes admitted the offence at Suffolk Magistrates' Court (Image: Newsquest) Sparkes replied to a Facebook post from the victim, Joanna Perrins, who asked a Hadleigh group chat if anyone could fix her cooker because it was not heating up.

Ms Perrins, a former police officer and now a chartered legal executive from Hadleigh, explained she was in a vulnerable state at the time of the offence in September.

“I’ve had a few mental health problems, and I was not in a good place,” she said.

“He told me it was a £40 callout. He went through to the to the kitchen and started to sort of pull the cooker out and I thought, you don't really look like you know what you're doing.

“Then he said, ‘it’s a heating element, I'll have to find out the cost of that and come back’ and he wanted cash for everything.

“He said it was £82 and came back the next day took the money and said he was getting the part from somewhere in Ipswich.

“I kept chasing because, obviously, I couldn't use my cooker.

“He he kept fobbing me off, then eventually he said he had a family crisis and spent the money."

Ms Perrins then phoned Suffolk Police, who she said were “absolutely brilliant”, and Sparkes was arrested.

Sparkes was ordered to pay total costs of £375, including a fine of £120, compensation of £122, a surcharge of £48 and court cost of £85.

Concerns have been raised by other women in Suffolk who claim to have been conned by Sparkes.

A spokesperson for Suffolk Trading Standards advised people to do as much research as possible before agreeing to have any work carried out.

The spokesperson said: “Don't be fooled by sign printed vans, glossy leaflets, business cards or a website, and while it might be tempting to agree to low prices being offered on the doorstep or by someone contacting you via social media, think twice.”