A man who manufactured and sold fake construction industry skill cards has been jailed for more than three years
Online trader Andrew Weeks was sentenced following an investigation by Warwickshire County Council Trading Standards, which discovered that Weeks was making construction industry skill cards at his printing firm – Nuneaton Print – and selling them via his website.
Weeks was charged under Section 9 of the Fraud Act 2006 for the production and sale of fake documents.
He was sentenced to three years and eight months in prison after pleading guilty on Friday 19 October at Warwick Crown Court.
The Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) also sued Weeks for copyright infringement and he was ordered to pay damages of £6,000.
CSCS chief executive Graham Wren said: “This is another example of the industry working together to tackle card fraud.
“CSCS will always support the authorities to identify and act against those attempting to deceive construction employers.
“This case also highlights the need for thorough card checks, ideally electronically, to ensure construction workers are who they say they are and have the correct qualifications for the job they do on site.”
Construction Industry Training Board fraud manager Ian Sidney added: “This sentence shows just how serious construction card fraud is and the lengths that CITB and the whole industry will go to in order to stamp it out.
“The use of fake cards could easily lead to accidents, injuries or even fatalities where contractors do not have the required skills, training or qualifications. Employers must remain vigilant when checking workers’ documentation and keep an eye out for any suspicious activity.”
