Cowboy builder conned thousands from customers

Using different company names, Richard Knight gave out quotes for work on gardens and drives and then demanded a deposit or payment up front. But the 45-year-old would then disappear, failing to honour appointments and refusing to answer phone calls, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

Knight, of Midhill Drive, Rowley Regis, admitted three counts of fraud and was given a suspended prison sentence, ordered to pay compensation to his victims and carry out 250 hours of unpaid work.

Using the names Black Country Drives and Drives & Gardens, Dudley Trading Standards first received complaints about Knight in 2008 and he was first warned about his conduct in April 2010.

Mr Mark Jackson, prosecuting, told the court he took £650 from a Mrs Aston to carry out work in her garden in April 2011 but then became a no-show who refused to answer her calls. Mr Jackson said Knight later told Mrs Aston she could 'dream on' after she asked for her money back.

Later the same month, he took a £1,000 deposit from a Mr and Mrs Linb after agreeing to carry out work on the drive at their Kingswinford home. Mr Jackson said Knight again failed to show in subsequent days. In frustration, Mr Linb went to Knight's home address where he was handed half of the money back.

The court heard Knight also took £1,000 from a Mr and Mrs Plant, also of Kingswinford, before disappearing. He eventually returned £300 to the couple but never completed the work.

Recorder Mark Rhind said: "From everything I have read about you, the way you ran your business was completely shambolic, shoddy and disorganised.

"You had no books, no records and you didn't pay taxes. You didn't declare any income and you operated under several different names.

"From April 2011 to September 2012 you ignored all the warnings and advise and continued to behave as you had done in a shambolic and disorganised way but also an improper and dishonest way.

"What should have been short, simple jobs for your customers gave them concern and worry for months and months and months."

Knight was ordered to pay £700 to Mr and Mrs Plant, £500 to Mr and Mrs Linb, and £225 to Mrs Aston.

He was given an eight-month suspended sentence for each of the three offences and ordered to remain inside his home between 9pm and 6am for the next four months.

Chris O'Gorman, defending, said Knight was not a 'serious' fraudster.

He said: "I would refute the suggestion that this has been fraudulent activity over a sustained period. It was not sophisticated and it was not a large number of victims.

"On all three occasions he has not set out to defraud these customers. They started off with genuine quotations to people who he had been recommended to and with the intention of carrying out the work."

But Recorder Mark Rhind told Knight he was lucky to avoid jail.

"You are and were petering on a knife edge," he said. "What happens now is entirely in your hands but if you fail to comply with the order then you will be brought back before this court and I would be very surprised if you were as lucky for a second time."