Family speak out after being duped by 'cowboy builder'
A family who were duped by a cowboy builder have told of the "stress and anxiety" they suffered after they were left more than £26,000 in debt.
The trusting residents employed Shane Rollinson, who was jailed for two years and two months this week, to develop a single-storey extension to makeover their family kitchen.
Wolverhampton Crown Court heard how the crook, of Downfield Drive, Sedgley, took £51,000 off customers to fund his gambling habit
One family from Bilston, who asked not to be named, signed a contract with Rollinson agreeing to pay a £4,000 deposit and a further £4,000 when the work was complete.
After only one day working on the extension, the dodgy builder requested an additional £1,000 to purchase materials to carry out the works. Once he received his first additional payment, he began to request more and more money.
After eight weeks of work and pocketing £7,610, Rollinson left the property dangerous and incomplete and never returned.
Shocking
The property was left in shocking, unsafe conditions leaving the family without a functioning kitchen and without water drainage, meaning they were unable to use any of their downstairs water facilities.
The residents’ one-year-old daughter could not play outside, and their family dog had to be constantly supervised as the back garden was also left in an unusable and hazardous condition with open drains, large holes and sharp materials taking over their garden.
The customer said: “It is sad to think we chose to trust this man and allow him into our family home, to renovate an extension we have worked so hard to save for.
“It was such an exciting time for us - we had our little girl and we were looking forward to improving our home, as we needed the extra space.
“Instead, Shane left us in a home that was unliveable. We could not wash our clothes or spend time outside in our own garden - our house was no longer a home, we did not feel safe to be there.
“The stress and anxiety we went through because of the actions of a selfish and deceitful cowboy builder is indescribable.”
Councillor Steve Evans, environment boss at Wolverhampton Council said: “I’m pleased justice has been served today, cowboy builders cause a huge amount of stress to the victims who have worked hard and saved to pay for improvements to their home only to be badly let down.
“It’s vital that we bring cases like this to the public’s attention – to ensure they avoid becoming victims of reckless cowboy builders.
“As a council, we have a duty to protect consumers from rogue traders who break the law and carry out sub-standard work."
