Rogue builder jailed after shoddy work left customers thousands out of pocket

A rogue builder's been jailed for four years after being found guilty of fraudulent trading and money laundering.

John MIller, 46, and from Costessey, in Norwich, left eight families thousands of pounds out of pocket after carrying out work that was described in court as shoddy and potentially dangerous through his companies HLD Construction Ltd and more recently as JGM Construction Services Ltd.

He was prosecuted by Norfolk Trading Standards.

The court heard that John Miller kept taking on contracts for building work and money from customers in the knowledge he couldn’t complete the work properly or at all.

During the trial the court heard expert evidence from a chartered building surveyor who had found a long lists of faults with work carried out by John Miller at two properties. These faults included uneven and sloping floors, a front door that had been hung in a frame that was too large with gaps evident when the door was shut, and an undulating wall. On just those two properties the cost of remedial work was estimated at more than £14,000.

Other properties were left with unevenly spaced roof joists, leaking windows and a roof that had started to sag under its own weight. The total cost of finishing or putting right the work carried out by John Miller is estimated to be nearly £120,000.

Miller was sentenced to 4 years’ imprisonment on each count of fraudulent trading, and 18 months’ imprisonment on the single count of money laundering, to be served concurrently. He was also disqualified from being a company director for 7 years and the Court made a Criminal Behaviour Order restricting his future conduct for 7 years. Confiscation proceedings, under proceeds of crime legislation, will follow and will include claims for compensation for victims as well as for the costs of the investigation.

Anyone concerned about rogue builder activity should contact the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 03454 04 05 06.