A rogue builder has been jailed for defrauding customers.
Mark Killick, 56, defrauded customers out of approximately £1.25 million and was sentenced to 14 years in prison after being found guilty of 37 counts of fraud by false representation following a 14-week trial at Bristol Crown Court.
Trading under the name Marc Cole through his company TD Cole Ltd, Killick took large sums of money from clients for building work that was left unfinished or never even started.
The jury was told that the scale of Killick's fraud was the equivalent of a 'lottery win'.
Killick's offences were carried out between 2019 and 2021 and led to a joint investigation by Avon and Somerset Police and Bristol City Council Trading Standards.
He told some customers they needed to pay their bills 'urgently', but the court was told he was running a ‘Ponzi scheme’ and effectively using that money to fund the work for customers who had paid him months before for jobs he had not completed.
He was also accused of failing to pay suppliers and contractors too, increasing the company’s liabilities.
Other money was used to fund his own personal expenditure, including gambling.
During his sentencing hearing on Monday (December 22) victims described the emotional and financial impact his crimes.
One victim said: "The worst thing was that he just kept telling us lies, making endless false promises, giving fake excuses, and demanding more money for himself. He knew, moreover, in doing this, that he was endangering the health and safety of our children. "
Another said as they were living on their pensions, they were less able to make up for their financial loss.
A third added: "I was living with the entire contents of my kitchen in my lounge, holes in the walls and floor and no cooking facilities for four months with no line of sight to when it would be done, and it always been ‘next week’... Then finding out I would not have a kitchen rebuilt, and with all the money gone, I was obviously distraught."
Killick had previously been convicted of similar offences in 2008 and 2014, using different names.
He changed his name to Marc Cole in January 2019 and set up TD Cole Ltd the following month.
Upon his release, Killick will be subject to a 15-year director disqualification order and a five-year Serious Crime Prevention Order.
Avon and Somerset Police are seeking to recover funds through the Proceeds of Crime Act.
DC Charlotte Suter said: "Building projects are stressful times, even when they go all to plan, so it's hard to adequately put into words what it's been like for Killick's victims.
"It has led to countless sleepless nights for them, as well as detrimental affected their health and future plans.
"While no sentence can undo the toll it’s caused, we hope they can take some comfort in Killick’s prison sentence."
To report a rogue trader, contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133.
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