Director of Hull furniture company that sparked 200 complaints jailed

A director of a pine furniture company which sparked 200 complaints from across the UK and Europe has been sentenced to 30 months in jail.
Hull Crown CourtHull Crown Court
Hull Crown Court

Ian Lewis McCormack, 29, who ran Hull-based Robert Dylan Pine, admitted three counts of fraudulent trading, two counts of participating in a fraudulent business operated by a sole trader as Ian McCormack Furniture and Pay on the Day Furniture, and one count of converting criminal property, earlier this year.

Hull Crown Court heard in one case a disabled child was left without a bed to sleep on and in another a business was unable to open.

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Another director, McCormack's cousin Steven Watson, 29, who left the business in 2017, and had also admitted three counts of fraudulent trading and one of dishonestly retaining a wrongful credit, was given a 12-month suspended jail sentence on Thursday.

Judge David Tremberg said they advertised their products at prices "most legitimate competitors simply could not match" and were "very quick" to take large deposits but "wholly unequipped" to meet the influx of orders.

Some of the furniture produced was of decent standard - but a "significant" amount was not.

Some furniture was judged "roughly constructed and dangerous" by trading standards.

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On many occasions they failed to deliver it at all or only delivered part of it,"fobbing off disgruntled customers with excuses, lies and sometimes unpleasant communications", the Judge said.

McCormack, of Egypt Street, Hull, was interviewed by police in January 2017, following a number of complaints about payments being taken and then not supplying all or part of the orders.

He made assurances that the money would be refunded and no further action was taken.

But complaints continued to be received by police, East Riding Council's Trading Standards team, as well as Action Fraud.

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There was an "unequivocal warning" from Trading Standards in April 2017 to cease their shoddy business practices but they showed a "contemptuos disregard" continuing to trade as before, the Judge said on Thursday.

The company changed name to Rural Furniture Company following negative press releases and Facebook posts, and the pair told trading standards officers in November 2017 that both companies had ceased trading. However McCormack continued as a sole trader - sparking further complaints about lack of refunds and sub-standard products.

The court was told that the value of the fraudulent trading period, from January 2017 to March 2019, was £221,232.

Mark Savage, representing McCormack, said he was "not a young man without merit" and understood he had worked as a carpenter on the TV programme DIY SOS.

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But Judge Tremberg said while it was "all well and good to swan off for charitable work, first and foremost you must do what you are paid to do."

Colin Briggs, trading standards manager at East Riding Council said he was delighted McCormack had been jailed, branding him a "compulsive liar".

He said despite his guilty plea in February, McCormack had continued operate in the same manner, with more people falling victim over the last few months.

He said McCormack "knew exactly what he was doing - this was systemic fraud on a national and international level."

McCormack was disqualifed as a company director for five years and Watson for four years.