An electrical contractor who falsely used the the NICEIC's logo to gain business, has been sentenced to 150 hours of unpaid work following a trading standards prosecution.
Shaun McKever, trading as S&M Electrical Contractors, pleaded guilty at Huntingdon Crown Court to using the NICEIC logo in breach of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.
McKever used the logo on a web listing and business card to promote his company as being registered with NICEIC, despite having no affiliation with the organisation.
In sentencing, the judge gave McKever a 12 month community order with 150 hours of unpaid work.
NICEIC has seen a rapid rise in the numbers of bogus tradesmen attempting to use the logo. NICEIC is the electrical contracting industry’s independent voluntary regulatory body for electrical installation safety matters in the UK.
'We will do all we can to prevent the illegal misuse of our logo', said Emma McCarthy, chief operating officer, NICEIC Group.
She added: 'It is recognised by members of the public as a mark of excellence and used by contractors as a way to promote the quality of their work. The sentence passed down by the in this case should serve as a warning and deterrent to others who misrepresent themselves in this way'.