A builder who left a woman with a gaping hole where her kitchen once stood has been handed a suspended jail sentence.
Gary Roberts told his victim to pay more than 拢17,000 for new windows and a rear extension in 2021 that he never completed.
The 60-year-old also paid himself more than 拢11,000 in funds from his GR Developments 1 Ltd company at the time that it was entering liquidation.
Roberts, of Old Spot Way, Winsford, was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years, at Chester Magistrates鈥� Court on Monday 31st March 2025.
He was also ordered to complete 20 days of community rehabilitation activity, pay 拢1,000 in costs, and a 拢154 surcharge.
David Snasdell, chief investigator at the Insolvency Service, said: 鈥淕ary Roberts left his victim in a state of utter desperation after wrecking her home. He never should have even signed a contract with her, as he knew his company was in financial trouble.
鈥淭he back of the victim鈥檚 house was completely exposed to the elements, having been knocked down from the kitchen. Roberts and his company also left a huge mess in her garden, with debris and rubble everywhere.
鈥淧rotecting the public from rogue traders such as Roberts is something the Insolvency Service takes extremely seriously. Fraudulent behaviour which causes clear financial harm to innocent people will be thoroughly investigated by the agency.鈥�
Roberts signed a contract with his customer at the start of May 2021, promising to complete an extension to the rear of her property.
Within a week, the victim had paid Roberts 拢10,000 as a deposit. A further payment of 拢7,000 was made at the end of June that year.
However Roberts never finished the project. The victim completed her extension in April 2022 after employing other tradesmen and lost out on the 拢17,000 she had handed over to Roberts.
In May 2021, just weeks after signing the contract with his victim, Roberts received advice from professionals about placing GR Developments 1 Ltd into liquidation. He also paid himself 拢11,513 in company money during May and July 2021 when he knew that GR Developments 1 Ltd was insolvent. 聽GR Developments 1 Ltd was eventually dissolved in January 2023.
Roberts was subsequently banned as a company director for 10 years for his misconduct at GR Developments 1 Ltd, with the disqualification in place until February 2034. He was also ordered to pay his victim more than 拢10,000 in compensation.
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