Ex-copper and charity champ now behind bars as reputation goes down the toilet

He was once a police officer upholding the law on Staffordshire's streets. Now Richard Stubbs is behind bars and awaiting sentence after ripping off customers at two of his businesses selling kitchens and bathrooms.

Stubbs joined Staffordshire Police at the age of 26 after quitting his job as a prison officer and served with the force for eight-and-a-half years. It was a spinal injury following a motorbike crash that forced Stubbs to leave Staffordshire Police and become a risk and compliance office for a mobile phone company. He had been an undercover spotter policing games at Stoke City and Port Vale.

He said at the time: “After the crash I was told that, due to my injuries, I could not go back on the beat as a police officer. I was offered a desk job in the force which I declined as that just wasn’t for me.”

READ: Rogue trader rips off customers - and now he faces jail - Richard Stubbs, 55, from Endon, left behind a trail of unhappy customers

READ: GUILTY! Fraudulent North Staffordshire businessman faces jail - Richard Stubbs, 55, from Endon, has been remanded in custody

Stubbs lodged a formal complaint with the authorities over the treatment of England fans at Euro 2004 in Portugal following violence he experienced during a Champions League match when Manchester United played Porto earlier that year. He was on the committee of the Independent Manchester United Supporters’ Association.

'Frightened' Stubbs told The Sentinel at the time: “The atmosphere was good but people were drunk although I didn’t sense any trouble. Towards the end of the afternoon a number of locals began lining up. The police formed a line to prevent them coming into the square. I can’t understand why the police didn’t move them on.

“You could tell the police were up for it, they were all in riot gear. The United fans were chanting and the locals were hurling abuse. A plastic beer glass was thrown. The police drew their batons and charged up the square hitting anyone and anything. One police officer was coming at me with a baton but I managed to dodge it, otherwise I would have been hit by three-feet of baton. It was very frightening. We managed to run up to where the coaches were and took shelter in a bar.

“The game passed without incident and the atmosphere was good. We saw some other Manchester fans being punched and kicked by the stewards. The police and stewards were hitting anybody. I put a complaint into United. They approached the official security who provided statements backing the statements of fans. A report has been forwarded to UEFA to try and ensure the safety of fans. The Portuguese police are definitely heavy-handed. It was almost as if the match was a trial-run for Euro 2004.”

Stubbs has been a Manchester United fan since 1976, had a season ticket, followed the club around Europe, and was 'good friends with the directors'.

He added: “Following the tsunami disaster in the Indian Ocean in 2004, I contacted Manchester United and asked if I could organise a collection during one of the matches with the Football Community. During a game in 2005 we raised £22,000, which I understand was the largest amount ever raised in a day at a football ground. I put the money through Manchester United which sent it to UNICEF.”

It was back in 2006 when Stubbs first moved into the business of selling kitchens and bathrooms. He opened Delta Bathrooms and Kitchens, in Station Street, Leek - with Stoke City legend Lou Macari officially opening the showroom.

To celebrate the opening, he pledged to fit a new bathroom for one lucky community group in the Staffordshire Moorlands. The company later opened a second branch in Congleton and secured a contract with social landlord Dane Housing.

He added: “We are offering a free of charge makeover for the most deserving and needy venue in the community. It is a cracking prize for a charity and it is already creating quite a bit of interest. I have always felt that Leek has managed to retain a real community spirit, where the locals pull together and support each other. “This is why I thought it would be nice to give something back to the community now that I am in a position to do so.”

Delta Bathrooms and Kitchens closed in 2009 and triggered a move online. Two years later, Stubbs opened Idesign Kitchen and Bathrooms, in The Smithfield Centre, in Leek.

Stubbs said at the time: “I had to take some time off after displacing two vertebrae in my spine so I could not carry on. I was told originally that I was going to be out of action for a long time which is why I decided to put the business online and run a much smaller operation. The good news is that my back has responded to treatment and the internet business has gone so well I need to reopen a showroom again. It is good to be back and I am really looking forward to contributing to Leek’s commerce.

“The shop will stock quality kitchens and bathrooms at an affordable price. With the economy hopefully taking a turn for the better I aim to add to Leek town centre in a positive way. I will still run the internet site alongside the showroom as both will complement each other. I am very excited about the new shop.“

Stubbs also became known for his charity work. He has run the London Marathon, the New York Marathon and The Potteries Marathon. Stubbs also sponsored The Plough darts team in Endon. He also teamed up with business partner and cancer patient Denise Chenoweth to raise money for Cancer Research UK. They formed the DCR motorbike racing team too.

Richard told The Sentinel in 2015: "Denise is just inspirational. Nothing compares to what she has gone through and she always keeps smiling. It always makes me think if Denise is happy, I should be happy too. She is known as ‘Pit Mum’ because she helps all the racers. I’ve noticed a change in her since we started with the racing team. We are always thinking about the next race and how to improve. It has taken her mind off things. It has been good for her and she has made many friends.”

Stubbs last hit the headlines - before his court shame - iwhen he was hit with fines for loading and unloading vehicles outside The Smithfield Centre. He fell out with Staffordshire Moorlands District Council and accused the local authority of committing 'commercial suicide'.

Now Stubbs is contemplating life from a prison cell. The 55-year-old, of High End View, Endon, has been found guilty of three charges of fraudulent trading, seven charges of fraud and two charges of intending to pervert the course of public justice after a six week trial at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court. He was found guilty of taking money upfront from customers for home improvements and not completing the work. Builder Carl Egerton, aged 54, of Basford Green, Cheddleton, who carried out work on behalf of Stubbs, was found guilty of one charge of fraud.

Stubbs has been remanded in custody and faces a prison sentence. The case follows a five-year investigation by Staffordshire County Council’s trading standards service.

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