• Become a contributor
  • Login

Hot Tub Retailer

Trade magazine for hot tubs & swim spas

Riptide top banner
  • News & views
    • News
    • Talking heads
    • Hot profile
    • Have your say
  • Events & expos
    • Event news
    • Event reviews
  • Sales & marketing
    • Economy news
    • Knowledge bank
  • Products
    • New products
    • Product reviews
  • Company profiles
    • Manufacturer interviews
    • Retailer interviews
    • Factory visits

Trade Price Group ‘fraudsters’ face jail

February 13, 2014 by Nick Clamp Leave a Comment

Share
Twitter0
Facebook4
Google+1
LinkedIn1

The three directors in the failed Trade Price Group hot tub business are facing jail after being convicted of fraudulent trading.

Screen shot 2014-02-13 at 12.15.05Hundreds of customers from across the country were affected by the fraud – while the business’s owners from Tamworth, Lichfield and Sutton Coldfield lived a life of luxury, the court heard.

They used the firm, also called ‘Spaserve’, as a “cash cow” to rake in advance payments and deposits.

Principal shareholder Simon Foster, together with Stuart Cox, a partner in the business and office manager Johnathan Husselbee were all found guilty by a jury at Stafford Crown Court following a three-month trial.

Foster, aged 48, of Sandfield Meadow, Lichfield; Cox, aged 49, of Oak Way, Sutton Coldfield and Husselbee, aged 36, of High Street, Dosthill, Tamworth had all denied the charges.

Judge Amjad Nawaz remanded them on bail for reports, but warned them they each face a custodial sentence. They will be sentenced at a later date.

The jury heard that instead of using customers’ cash to fulfil all their orders, the bosses spent money on themselves, with lavish lifestyles, expensive cars and holidays.

Mr Adrian Keeling QC, prosecuting, told the jury: “It was not run as a proper and honest business, it was run, first and foremost, as a source of income for these defendants. It was run as a ‘cash cow’ and a cash cow to be milked.

“Their purpose wasn’t to trade responsibly, to give the customer what they ordered, on time and working properly. It was run with the simple aim of making these defendants money.

“Over three and a half years period [of trading], Foster in particular, in his own words, enjoyed a millionaire’s lifestyle and he did just that. Cox and Husselbee, on any view, received a lot of money.”

Customers were told lies to encourage them to sign on the dotted line or to stop them taking money out of the business by cancelled orders. The lies included telling customers the hot tubs were American, rather than made in China; lies about what parts and extras came with the hot tubs; lies about how long it would take to deliver and install.

The police investigation into the activities of Spaserve began in the late summer of 2010 as a joint inquiry with Trading Standards following numerous complaints from disgruntled customers.

It is thought that around 2,000 hot tubs were sold to customers over three-and-a-half years (from April 2007 to October 2010), and only in the region of 1,600 were delivered.

More than 17,500 pages of statements and exhibits made up the case and 65 witnesses – which represented the 734 customers affected by these individuals and the business – gave evidence during the lengthy trial.

Following the trial DS Rob Harvey, from the force’s Fraud and Financial Investigation Unit, said: “The conviction is to be welcomed and follows a highly complex investigation which ran over several years.

“This case highlights that fraud is not a victimless crime. It is a criminal act, and one which is motivated by greed. These three men preyed on unsuspecting members of the public by abusing their trust and callously disregarding the impact their actions would have.

“They did not care about the customers they were dealing with – they were purely motivated by securing hot tub sales and getting money.

“I would like to thank all those people who came forward and told us of their experiences at the hands of Spaserve.”

Filed Under: News

About Nick Clamp

I am the Editor-in-Chief here at Hot Tub Retailer and my job is to keep you informed about the very latest hot tubs on the UK market... the best job in the world! When I'm not being deluged with press releases and hot tub brochures I enjoy star gazing in my hot tub, spending time with my wife Karen and our two children Alex and Josh and the ups and downs of the occasional Doncaster Rovers match.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Email newsletter

Sign up to receive the latest Hot Tub news direct to your inbox!

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Events & expos

Extension is a virtual reality for SPATEX

February 18, 2021 By Andy Slater Leave a Comment

Sales & marketing

Marquis rewards exemplary commitment

February 19, 2021 By Andy Slater Leave a Comment

Extension is a virtual reality for SPATEX

February 18, 2021 By Andy Slater Leave a Comment

Advertisment

Marquis Side Ad

Tags

1 Stop Spas American Whirlpool Aqua Spa Supplies Aquatic Training Vessel Aqua Warehouse Group Artesian Spas Award Leisure BISHTA British Pool & Hot Tub Awards Caldera Spas Catalina Spas Certikin Coast Spas Doric Marketing Fantasy Spas Golden Coast HotSpring hot tub dealers Hot Tub Living Expo hot tub retailers International Pool Spa Patio Expo Jacuzzi L.A Spas Marquis Marquis Spas Piscina & Wellness Barcelona Piscine Global RotoSpa Spa Crest Europe SPATA SpaTech Training SPATEX SPATEX Virtual Sundance Spas Superior Spas swim spa dealers UK Pool & Spa Expo Villeroy & Boch Vita Spa Watkins Manufacturing Watkins Wellness Wellis WhatSpa? WhatSpa? Approved WhatSwimSpa?

About us

Hot Tub Retailer is the UK’s No. 1 B2B Hot Tub & Wet Leisure Magazine. Since its launch in 2010, Hot Tub Retailer has become established as the leading source of high quality and independent hot tub industry news, expert commentary and sales and marketing features to help wet leisure professionals to stay up to date with the very latest trends, products and skills in their field.

Read more about us

Latest tweets

  • EUSA honour for Jacuzzi retailer - https://t.co/Yvn80r7kvE https://t.co/mbxbyjpUfB November 15, 2019 4:07 pm
  • Holiday park winners booked in at NEC - https://t.co/rYhF9Xb4NB https://t.co/bcg3VyOgOZ November 4, 2019 9:45 pm

Follow us on Twitter

Search

Copyright © 2021 Hot Tub Retailer

Copyright © 2021 · Hot Tub Retailer on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in