Rogue trader left 'gaping hole' in woman's house

A builder left a "gaping hole" in a woman's house after charging her more than £17,000 for work when his firm was about to go bust, a court has heard.

Gary Roberts, 60, was supposed to be fitting a rear extension on to the property in Cheshire in 2021.

Chester Magistrates' Court heard his business was on the brink of insolvency when he took the pre-payment for the work, which was never completed.

Roberts, of Old Spot Way, Winsford, has been given a six-month sentence suspended for two years.

Roberts pleaded guilty to fraudulently removing property in anticipation of the winding-up of a company, contrary to section 206 of the Insolvency Act 1986.

A large section of the rear of the house was left knocked down, with rubble strewn across the garden, the hearing was told.

Roberts asked his victim to pay upfront for the work, despite his company, GR Developments 1 Ltd, being in financial difficulties at the time.

The court heard Roberts knew this as he sought professional advice on placing the company into liquidation just weeks later.

He signed a contract with his customer at the start of May 2021, promising to complete an extension to the rear of her property.

Within one week, the victim had paid a deposit of £10,000, with a further payment of £7,000 made at the end of June that year.

But Roberts never finished the project and the victim had to pay out to employ other tradespeople, with the work completed in April 2022.

Roberts also paid himself £11,513 in company money in May and July 2021, when he knew GR Developments 1 Ltd was insolvent, the court heard.

He has been ordered to pay his victim more than £10,000 in compensation, £1,000 in costs and a £154 victim surcharge.

He is also required to complete 20 days of community rehabilitation activity.

Roberts has been banned as a company director for 10 years for his misconduct at GR Developments 1 Ltd, with the disqualification in place until February 2034.

GR Developments 1 Ltd was eventually dissolved in January 2023.

David Snasdell from the Insolvency Service said the rear of the house was left completely exposed to the elements, and there was "a huge mess in her garden".

"Gary Roberts left his victim in a state of utter desperation after wrecking her home," he said.

"He never should have even signed a contract with her, as he knew his company was in financial trouble."

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