AN electrical appliance supplier and repairer who left some customers out of pocket has been given three months to try to pay them back.

The challenge was set for 39-year-old Richard Allsopp after he admitted ten commercial practices offences at Durham Crown Court.

Allsopp, of The Cottages, Rushyford, who runs A&R Electrics (North-East) Ltd, on Shildon’s Dabble Duck Industrial Estate, was said to have committed the offences between January 2016 and January this year.

Mr Faulks asked for sentence to be adjourned for three months to see if the defendant is able to fully repay affected customers.

“There are ten complainants, some of whom have gone to the Small Claims Court to sort out getting their money back, and we understand he’s trying to repay money.”

Mr Faulks told Judge Christopher Prince the overall amount involved between £9,000 and £10,000, of which £4,456 remains outstanding.

“So, this defendant feels he will be able to repay the £4,500 in a three-month period and, if your honour felt that would show a degree of remorse to be reflected in the sentencing exercise, then that is something that may be worthy of consideration.”

Mr Faulks added that the prosecution would also seek to have Allsopp disqualified as a company director.

Stephen Constantine, for Allsopp, said he had previously traded lawfully for a number of years.

Judge Prince said: “Then something went wrong and he ends up at crown court.”

The judge added: “In cases like this repayment makes a big difference.”

Adjourning for three months, Judge Prince told Allsopp, who has no previous convictions, that, “all sentencing options remain open”, when he returns to court on September 21.

The judge also asked for a background report on Allsopp to be prepared by the Probation Service prior to that hearing.

*Andreas Allsopp, who used to run A & R Electrics (North-East) Ltd, has had no involvement in that company in recent years. He is now, however, a director of another electrical appliance repair company, AAA Appliances Care Centre, in Church Street, Shildon.