A Wirral builder accused of fraudulently scamming his neighbour out of hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of work has pleaded not guilty to all counts. William Harrington, of Linksway, Wallasey, appeared before Liverpool Crown Court this morning.
He faces multiple charges brought by Wirral Council on behalf of a neighbour, Helen McGee. Harrington is charged with having committed fraud in that he “dishonestly made a false representation” relating to a quote for home improvement works and oral representations relating to such works.
He is accused of “quoting a total charge of £220,000 for such works at the said address, which was subsequently valued at approximately £155,555 if performed to a good compliant standard, intending to make a gain, namely £220,000, for yourself.”
Charges detail alleged misleading practices
Wearing a dark suit and tie, he answered not guilty to 16 charges put before him. He is accused of engaging in commercial practice “which, by omission, was misleading” as a trader on May 4 last year.
On the same date, he is also charged with having “committed fraud in that you dishonestly failed to disclose” information to Helen McGee “when entering into a contract with her for the provision of home improvement works to an agreed value of approximately £172,200” and not giving her “a notice of her right to cancel the contract within 14 days from the date on which the contract was made.”
He is charged again with having engaged in “a commercial practice which is a misleading omission” in June 2025. He is also accused on this date of having “committed fraud in that you dishonestly failed to disclose” information to Ms McGee “when entering into a contract with her for the provision of home improvement works to an additional value of approximately £47,800.”
Further allegations of aggressive practice
Between May and December 2025, it is alleged Harrington “knowingly or recklessly engaged in a commercial practice which contravened the requirements of professional diligence.” He has also been charged with failing to provide Ms McGee with the pre-contractual information required “which you were under a legal duty to disclose, intending, by that failure, to make a gain, namely the sum of approximately £172,200, for yourself.”
Harrington faces a number of further charges under unfair trading regulations. Three of these relate to an allegedly failing to provide Ms McGee with a Building Regulations Compliance Certificate. The charges allege that by doing this, this “as a result caused or was likely to cause the average consumer to take a transactional decision [they] would not have taken otherwise.”
He is also accused of failing to provide “information requested in respect of the progress, costs, payments and completion certifications in respect of the said works.” A further two charges accuse Harrington of engaging in “a commercial practice which was aggressive.”
Trial date set
Harrington is accused of “making an oral representation during a telephone call” to Ms McGee where he said “work at the said address would cease unless a final payment of £10,000 was made, through the use of harassment, coercion or undue influence.”
A date has been set for a trial, expected to last between eight to 10 days, for June 21, 2027. Harrington was granted unconditional bail until his next appearance in June next year.
