Rogue builder scams £150,000 from clients, leaving trails of unfinished work

A rogue builder has been accused of swindling his customers retired of astir £150,000 by taking deposits for enactment helium ne'er completed. Paul Atkinson, 45, from Porthcawl, allegedly near 1 lawsuit contemplating termination and others successful fiscal distress portion helium enjoyed lavish holidays and play trips.

Atkinson reportedly pocketed the funds sent to him by clients who hired him to physique extensions and orangeries connected their properties. However, erstwhile the wealth was transferred, helium became elusive, ignored refund requests, and subtly threatened those who posted antagonistic reviews.

During a sentencing proceeding astatine Cardiff Crown Court, it was revealed that Atkinson operated nether the institution names Protecta Home Improvements, Protecta Design and Build Ltd, and aboriginal MET Construction Ltd. His website falsely claimed the institution had offices successful Bridgend, Cardiff, Swansea, and Bristol.

Images connected the tract supposedly showcasing Atkinson's enactment were besides fabricated.

Prosecutor David Elias KC stated that Atkinson initially appeared "open, professional, and knowledgeable astir what helium was going to do" and connection was "prompt". However, aft receiving the deposits, Atkinson would seldom respond to messages and would marque excuses for enactment being delayed, reports Wales Online.

The enactment that was carried retired was substandard, and successful galore instances, had to beryllium removed and corrected astatine a important cost.

Unfinished enactment carried retired by Porthcawl builder Paul Atkinson who fleeced his customers retired of £147,000. (Image: Bridgend County Borough Council)

When pressed for refunds, the fraudster would connection a litany of excuses and suggest repayment successful instalmentsa committedness helium ne'er fulfilled. Despite Protecta Design and Build Ltd entering liquidation successful 2022, Atkinson shamelessly continued to judge deposits without informing his clients of the company's defunct status.

In retaliation for antagonistic online reviews, helium would brazenly request their removal with the menace that nary refunds would beryllium issued otherwise.

Mr Elias revealed that Atkinson swindled a staggering £147,500 from his customers betwixt September 1, 2019, and July 30, 2022, squandering the ill-gotten gains connected lavish overseas holidays and golfing jaunts. He siphoned funds from the concern into his idiosyncratic relationship and that of his wife.

Heart-wrenching unfortunate interaction statements disclosed to the tribunal elaborate the profound affectional and intelligence toll exacted by Atkinson's deceit. One family, already grappling with their daughter's wellness issues, recovered themselves moving overtime, scrapping holidays, and deprived of precious clip to attraction for her owed to the fiscal strain helium caused.

Another mates lamented the nonaccomplishment of an inheritance spent connected a phantom extension, with 1 spouse confessing: "This has near america financially and emotionally drained. I felt upset and anserine for falling for a conman's tricks and my intelligence wellness has been affected."

Unfinished enactment carried retired by Porthcawl builder Paul Atkinson who fleeced his customers retired of £147,000. (Image: Bridgend County Borough Council)

Numerous customers voiced their dissatisfaction, citing instances wherever trenches were dug successful their gardens, lone to beryllium near to cod water, efficaciously isolating them from the remainder of their outdoor space. Some were adjacent forced to remortgage their homes to supply Atkinson with deposits, yet were near with thing to amusement for it.

The defendant's demeanour was described arsenic "arrogant and aggressive" erstwhile outgo had been made.

One unfortunate recounted receiving veiled threats to region societal media posts, with the informing that nonaccomplishment to comply would effect successful nary refund. Another unfortunate shared the affectional toll of the experience, stating: "It brought maine a batch of accent and it's been hard connected my narration with my partner. I recovered it hard to cope, felt aggravated and depressed, and felt similar I should extremity my ain life."

A pistillate described her distressing experience, having hired the suspect to physique an hold to accommodate her son's analyzable aesculapian needs. However, erstwhile she was incapable to interaction Atkinson and requested a refund, helium appeared astatine her home, visibly angry.

The unfinished enactment near a trench successful her garden, forcing her to transportation her lad successful his wheelchair conscionable to entree their car astatine the rear of the property. She expressed her deepest concern, saying: "What upset maine astir was helium knew however babelike we were connected the garden."

Atkinson, from Woodland Avenue, admitted to 8 counts of knowingly oregon recklessly engaging successful a commercialized signifier arsenic a trader, 24 counts of dishonestly making mendacious practice for idiosyncratic summation oregon causing nonaccomplishment to others, and 1 number of moving a concern with the intent to defraud creditors oregon for different fraudulent purposes.

In his defence, Thomas Crowther KC stated that Atkinson was dealing with cashflow issues and rising costs which had eaten into his profits. He added that Atkinson had intended to repay radical but was "overwhelmed by commercialized pressures".

The tribunal was informed that Atkinson helps attraction for his parents and his father-in-law who has a superior condition, and his institution employs 4 individuals with young families.

During sentencing, Judge Carl Harrison remarked: "You said you didn't attraction astir your customers and the effect upon them... You repeatedly took wealth from them and provided thing successful return."

Atkinson received a full condemnation of 43 months imprisonment. He volition service fractional the condemnation successful custody earlier being released to service the remainder connected licence.