Subj : Unlicensed builder forged the names, signatures of licensed peers
To   : All
From : News
Date : Fri Jun 14 2024 01:59 pm

By 1News Reporters
40 mins ago

An unlicensed builder has been convicted of forging the names and signatures
of two licensed builders on Certificate of Design Work for three properties
in the Bay of Plenty and Otago.


Between September 2021 and July 2022, Jimmy Carson, sole director of Carson
Design and Co Ltd, forged the names and signatures of two licensed builders
while working on three properties in Mt Maunganui, East Taieri and Tauranga.


He used their licence numbers, address, and phone numbers which he had
obtained while corresponding with them regarding the designs of the
properties.


Carson's offending was discovered in September 2022 when the Tauranga City
Council phoned the licensed builder whose named and signature Carson had
forged when filing a Certificate of Design Work.


Registrar of Licensed Practitioners Duncan Connor said Carson was fully aware
of the consequences of his actions, the lives he could have impacted, and
those who he had forged the names and signatures of.


"Carrying out restricted building work without holding an appropriate license
or being supervised by a Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP), is a serious
offence," Connor said.


The LBP scheme ensures consumers can be confident that they are hiring
properly trained professionals to carry out or supervise restricted building
work (RBW). LBPs must keep their licence up to date while carrying out RBW.
Working without a licence means a fine of up to $20,000 can occur.


"There was a high degree of premeditation in the offending by Mr Carson and
he caused a significant breach of trust," Connor said.


Tauranga District Court Judge Greg Hollister-Jones found Carson guilty on two
charges of forgery and sentenced him to six-month community detention that
started from May 30.


He also found Carson guilty on two charges of providing false and misleading
information and ordered him to pay a total fine of $2000 ($1000 for each of
the charges).


Connor urged anyone who is engaging a builder to first look them up on the
LBP Public Register.

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