Couple Loses Over £30,000 to Rogue Builder Leaving Extension Unfinished
Barry and Shelley Sawkins report that the building work consumed "every penny" they had.
A distressed couple lost more than £30,000 to a rogue builder who abandoned their new extension, resulting in water leaking into their home.
Concerns arose when Shelley Sawkins, 75, contacted the tradesman and discovered he was in Lanzarote, spending money she had provided.
The builder, Christian Williams, 54, is currently serving a two-year prison sentence after admitting theft and three counts of fraud by false representation involving four families.
During a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing at Mold Crown Court earlier this month, it was revealed that Williams had benefited by £163,051.70 from his offenses, but only had assets worth £1 available for repayment.
Williams had been posting photos on Facebook of holidays and outings at the races, while one victim, a father of three, had to complete his two-storey extension himself.
Shelley and her husband Barry, 63, spent a total of £50,000 repairing the botched job at their bungalow in Buckley, Flintshire, nearly £30,000 more than the original £21,000 quote.
Approximately £30,000 was paid to Williams, with an additional £20,000 going to other builders correcting his work.
However, significant issues remain, including uneven flooring, and the couple are now eager to leave their once-loved home for sheltered accommodation.
"We paid the first installment. The work started, and then just stopped," Shelley said.
"Then we saw he was in Lanzarote on holiday with our money.
"He would disappear for weeks and then come back with excuse after excuse."
They had hoped Williams, operating as Chris Williams Construction, would improve their lives by creating a spacious kitchen area.
Instead, the work disrupted their lifestyle, Shelley added.
The first indication of poor workmanship was a wall that wobbled when pushed.
One night, after roofing work, rainwater began leaking into the house.
"I was up in the middle of the night collecting water in buckets while trying to look after my husband," Shelley said, who was caring for Barry, who has Alzheimer's disease.
"I was in tears. I was constantly in tears. It was a nightmare."
The extension remains unfinished three years after work began in 2023.
The project stalled soon after commencement in 2023.
After awarding Williams the contract, the couple found he rarely attended the site himself, instead sending workers Shelley described as "elderly and apparently unqualified to carry out much of the work."
Despite the poor quality and slow progress, Williams continued to demand further payments, claiming this would accelerate completion.
It later emerged that suppliers of the extension's specially-made bifold doors were never paid, preventing delivery.
The couple had to pay for the doors again.
Williams abandoned the project when it was only half finished.
The financial impact was only part of the problem.
"We're sitting in an extension that's still not properly completed," Shelley said.
"The flooring isn't level, parts of the work were never finished, and we've spent years dealing with the consequences.
"I just wanted to run away from it all. It affected every part of our lives... our health, our home and our future."
Another Family Endures Stress and Financial Loss
Claire and David Eddon, parents of three young children, hired Williams to build a two-storey extension but described the experience as stressful and damaging to their relationship.
Dave Eddon, 42, and wife Claire decided to extend their home in Higher Kinnerton, Flintshire, while raising a one-year-old and toddlers aged two and four.
Williams quoted about four months and £100,000 for the work, which began in September 2022.
Dave paid over £56,000 in installments, but after initial progress in the first two weeks, work slowed dramatically over the next four months.
Williams gave numerous excuses, including holidays and lack of tradespeople or supplies.
After abandoning the job in February, the couple had to complete it themselves using individual tradespeople and Dave's labor, as other contractors declined to take on the unfinished work.
This additional work cost them £60,000, leaving them £16,000 out of pocket.
"The project management [was] a significant drain... at a time in my life where I wanted to be spending as much time as possible with my young family," Dave said.
"However, it was the only option I had to get out of the horrendous situation that he left us in."
The stress caused Claire to experience "significant mental and physical symptoms," including insomnia, heart palpitations, panic attacks, and frequent crying episodes, Dave added.
Third Victim Faces Similar Issues
Mark Barber-Riley, 75, from Holywell, hired Williams in March 2022 to build a downstairs bedroom for his disabled grandson.
The work began well but slowed over time.
The job, expected to finish by August, remained incomplete by January 2023, with Williams claiming he could not find workers.
Mark found an electrician for Williams, who agreed to pay him but later informed Mark he had no money.
"I found him an electrician," Mark said.
"He [Williams] agreed to pay him... but then he contacted me to say that he had no money. I felt that was shocking."
Mark paid Williams £44,000 but had to spend an additional £20,000 to complete the work without him.
Williams Expelled from Builder Register
Williams, from Mynydd Isa, Flintshire, was jailed for two years in December after admitting theft and fraud by false representation.
His victims have called for improved regulation to protect those employing contractors.
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) permanently removed Chris Williams Construction from its website in March 2023.
The company was initially placed under monitoring after a complaint.
Following a second complaint regarding delays and incomplete work, an investigation was conducted.
The findings were presented to a committee including trading standards officers, resulting in the company's expulsion from the federation.
"Despite our best efforts, including onsite inspection of work, financial vetting and 10 additional background checks, a very small minority of members fall below the standards we expect of our members - with only 2% of all jobs our members do resulting in a complaint," a spokesperson said.
The FMB has long advocated for builder licensing.
Earlier this year, the Department for Business and Trade expressed support for the TrustMark scheme, which helps consumers find reputable traders and provides redress if work is substandard.
