THREE men are on trial at Oxford Crown Court accused of running a solar panel business that misled and pressurised customers.

They have denied 28 counts of breaching the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 in relation to 14 people, about half of whom live in Oxfordshire.

Oxfordshire County Council’s trading standards team claims the defendants committed the offences while trading as Solar for You, which installed solar panels on people’s roofs between 2011 and 2013.

They are alleged to have carried out “incompetent” or incomplete work, installed “overpriced” systems, not provided the necessary paperwork, and misled customers about the benefits, origins and specifications of their products.

In addition, they are accused of using “harassment, coercion or undue influence” to make people buy products they would not have bought otherwise.

Jason Cunningham, 28, of Bradmore Way, Lower Earley, Reading, faces 19 counts of breaching consumer regulations and one count of fraud by false representation.

Srinivas Basavaraju, 40, of Berkeley Avenue, Reading, faces six counts of breaching consumer regulations and one count of fraud by false representation.

Thomas Murray, 38, of Headley Road East, Reading, faces 19 counts of breaching consumer regulations.

On Thursday a jury heard evidence from complainant Godfrey Winfield, who lives in Cassington, near Witney, who said he paid the firm £9,240 but received no paperwork from them.

The trial continues.