A MAN once featured in a TV expose on cowboy builders has been ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work in the community for misleading customers.

Eoin Murray (pictured), 47, from Stokeinteignhead near Newton Abbot, had previously admitted three charges of engaging in unfair or misleading commercial practices relating to work his company carried out in 2008.

A Devon County Council Trading Standards spokesman said after the hearing at Exeter Crown Court: "This was a truly shocking case. Our investigation revealed the poor workmanship and deception which caused misery and distress to his victims."

The court was told that Murray, the owner of Sovereign Property Designs and Thistle Building and Design Services, committed the offences on July 16 while carrying out work on an extension worth £25,000.

Murray pleaded guilty to making a false statement in a letter to his client Henry George Quinn, claiming the certificate had been produced by a qualified electrician when it had not. He also claimed steels used in the construction of the extension had been properly erected when they had not.

The charges were brought under the Consumer Protection regulations.

Four other matters were left on file.

The court heard Murray was not a qualified electrician and should not have signed the certificate.

The prosecution brought by Trading Standards under Consumer Protection regulations said the relationship between Murray and the Quinns had 'broken down,' with work being left unfinished and money for the job not being paid.

The job was sub-standard and Murray was motivated by a need to get his money, the court was told.

It was said in mitigation that the man who carried out the electrical work, Bradley Loughman, was qualified but Murray had assisted him.

There was no danger of anyone being electrocuted by Murray's actions, the court was told.

Judge John Neligan also told Murray to pay £1,500 costs.

Cllr Roger Croad, Devon County Council's cabinet member responsible for county Trading Standards, said: "Devon County Council, through its Trading Standards Service, will continue to do all that it can to protect residents and legitimate local businesses from such illegal trading activities."

The council said Murray had been the subject of a Channel 5 programme called Cowboy Builders in which he denied being a cowboy builder despite allegations that he allegedly left a Plymouth couple with an unfinished and potentially dangerous extension to their property. He subsequently complained to media watchdogs OFCOM about the programme, but his complaint was not upheld and the independent regulator found in favour of the production company.

Peter Greene, operations manager for Devon County Council Trading Standards Service, said: "In the case of Mr Murray there was a mixture of deception in the documents he provided to his customer and general poor workmanship which meant he fell well below standards expected of a local business.

"Hopefully the community service and cost order will send out a message to anyone else in the building trade that this kind of behaviour really isn't acceptable and will not be tolerated."