Cornwall building fraud: Matthew Cole handed suspended sentence

Picture handing over tens of thousands of pounds to a local builder for a garage conversion or a home renovation, trusting him to see it through, and ending up instead with an unsupported steel beam, a wall that has to be knocked back down, and a job that simply stops. That is what happened to customers in Cornwall, and the man behind it has now been prosecuted for fraud.

Matthew Cole, of Chesterfield Road, Plymouth, appeared at Truro Crown Court on Wednesday, August 26 for sentencing. At an earlier hearing, the 44 year old admitted acting dishonestly by making false representations and misusing client deposits, diverting funds between jobs while continuing to accept payments despite knowing he could not fulfil his commitments.

A steel beam fitted upside down

Among the evidence in the case were photographs of Cole’s work, including a structural steel beam installed the wrong way up, leaving masonry above it unsupported. Other images showed a rotten timber fascia left exposed to the weather and insulation boarding sagging away from the joists above it, the kind of work Building Control later found needed to be stripped out and done again.

Two Cornwall jobs that fell apart

One victim paid over £39,000 for a garage conversion. Cole fitted incorrect lintels and built a wall of such poor standard that it had to be demolished. He did not finish the job, and because of the costs already sunk into it, the victim could not afford to have the work put right.

Another victim paid over £18,000 towards a £25,000 property renovation. Only 20% of the work was completed before Cole gave a string of excuses and abandoned the job. Building Control advised that what had been done was so poor it would need to be completely removed.

How the fraud worked

Cole took large sums of money from several customers in Cornwall for building projects he failed to complete. He also charged VAT to customers despite not being registered for VAT.

Gary Webster, Trading Standards Group Leader at Cornwall Council, said Cole overextended the business, taking on more work than he could manage, and relied on subcontractors whose work quality he could not guarantee. “The quality of the work deteriorated as workloads increased,” Gary said. “He continued to take payments for work he knew he would be unable to complete. Despite assurances to customers that their money was being spent on specific materials, he misused the funds for other purposes.”

What the judge said

Sentencing, His Honour Judge Simon Carr said he believed Cole started off as a genuine builder running a legitimate company but started taking on work that “he couldn’t possibly complete”. Cole was sentenced to 15 months in prison for each of the five charges, to run concurrently, suspended for two years.

Cornwall Council’s warning

Councillor Thalia Marrington, cabinet member with responsibility for Community Safety and Public Protection at Cornwall Council, said the case highlighted a serious breach of trust. “Victims paid thousands for work that was never finished, leaving them out of pocket and facing further expense to put things right,” Thalia said. “Cornwall Council will continue to take action against rogue traders who exploit customers, and we are happy that the sentence reflects the harm caused in this case.”