A cowboy builder promised a couple he would renovate their property and transform it into the dream home they had been hoping for - but then started threatening them when they pointed out that the work was not carried out properly, a court heard.
After getting married, Brian Hall and his wife Carolyn moved into their home in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, and had the funds to renovate the property, which was a little dated.
They instructed builder Brett Grundy, trading as Lakeland Construction, to work on their property and he quoted £19,000 to extend the kitchen and create a garden for the newlyweds.
The builder "promised the earth" to the couple but soon, they started being met with delay after delay, reports Lancs Live.
Brian explained that the house renovation "meant so much" to him and his wife as it would have been "a new start" for them.
However, talking about the cowboy builder's attitude, he explained: "He said he had a premature baby, then it was a flat tyre, then his daughter was in hospital, then he had Covid. It was one thing after another. I was getting fed up."
Brian had found Grundy through online reviews sites, but after doing some extra research, he discovered a string of customers who were not satisfied with his service.
When he decided to confront the builder, Grundy began making threats to Brian, even falsely accusing him of being a paedophile and saying he would spread the untrue slur around Blackpool.
Describing the poor service they received, Brian said: "When it got to his second tyre bursting, meaning he couldn't get the lads to work, I offered to go and pick them up and drop them off. Another time he said he was in A&E - as it happened I was at the hospital that day too, so I said I'd pop down and see him."
He added: "He said his cement mixer was broken. We had to pay extra for a digger. He'd blame the weather when it was raining, when there were indoor jobs they could be doing."
Brian also explained that when work was carried out, it was a poor standard, for example, rubble was left all over the garden when the couple asked for a lean-to to be removed.
"Whenever we got a niggle that something wasn't right, we'd speak to the contractor on site and five minutes later, Brett would be on the phone", Carolyn said. "It was like grooming. Everything he said was plausible. I feel so stupid.
"I had to remortgage to pay for the work, but Brett would be texting all the time asking for more money. Brian was getting upset - he wouldn't leave him alone. I felt rushed and panicked, and if I didn't do it, what other threats were we going to get?"
Eventually, the couple contacted Trading Standards to investigate Grundy. A number of other dissatisfied customers also came forward and Grundy was charged with four counts of engaging in unfair commercial practice.
Preston Crown Court heard how one woman, who had severe mental health difficulties, attempted to take her own life after the rogue trader promised her "the garden of your dreams" - in exchange for her life savings of £10,000. The woman had not left her home for five years, but was left with work which was valued by a council buildings surveyor at zero.
"It was not even basic DIY standard", Judge guy Mathieson said.
Another man was left with a chimney "which could collapse at any minute" after the builder knocked out a breast and nailed a piece of wood in to support it.
In court, Grundy's barrister Jonathan Woodward said his client felt "deep shame and remorse" at the way he had treated his customers. But as he was led to the cells to begin a 20 month prison sentence, Grundy turned to the public gallery - where several of his victims sat - and cheered.
"There's no remorse", said Brian. "We are left in a terrible state. We have had to dig up the floor, we can't sell the house, we can't use the dining room and all the big furniture has had to be stored in the lounge. At one point we were having to climb over furniture to sit down.
"My son couldn't play in the garden because it was all dug up, and the house was cluttered with furniture. I was constantly trying to make him feel at home, but it was hard when the place was in that condition.
"Grundy never once said, 'I can't do this but I know someone who can'. He said he'd done it all before and had contacts in the trades who could get discounts and materials - which were difficult to get hold of during lockdown.
"He came across as very charming at first, saying he had learnt the trades from leaving school, alongside his dad and his grandad. His online reviews were good, but we later found out they had been written by family members.
"The sentence he was given was not long enough. I don't think some of his victims will ever recover."
However, in addition to the prison sentence, Judge Mathieson handed down a Criminal Behaviour Order which bans Grundy from running a business or touting for work as a tradesman. He can only carry out work as an employee for the next 10 years.
"The CBO is the main thing", said Carolyn. "We just don't want anyone else to go through what we have."
