Cornwall Builder Jailed: Homeowners Lose £150,000 in Fraud Case

Photo: This extension that had to be completed by other contractors due to Smith rarely being on-site to progress the work.

A rogue builder who left a customer’s home uninhabitable and caused losses of around £150,000 has been sentenced to 28 months in prison following a prosecution by Cornwall Council.

Builder’s Fraudulent Business Exposed

James Christopher Smith, 45, of Wadebridge, who traded as Cornwall Building and Roofing Contractors, pleaded guilty to participating in a fraudulent business under Section 9 of the Fraud Act 2006. Cornwall Council’s Trading Standards team launched an investigation in February 2023 after receiving multiple complaints from customers. In total, seven victims were identified.

One homeowner contracted Smith to build a single-storey timber frame extension, but after delays and demands for materials that were never ordered, a Cornwall Council building inspector identified 30 breaches of Building Regulations. The extension had to be demolished.

In another case, a customer agreed to pay £184,000 for the remodelling of a bungalow. Despite making an initial deposit and multiple staged payments, materials were not ordered, and the property was left without windows, doors, heating, or electrics, making it uninhabitable. Both homeowners were forced to seek additional finance to complete their projects.

Unfair Practices Uncovered

The investigation found that Smith engaged in a range of fraudulent activities, including:

• Failing to carry out agreed works for customers
• Failing to return money for unfinished works
• Carrying out work without reasonable skill and care
• Failing to fix sub-standard work
• Misleading customers about work to be completed
• Misleading customers about materials to be ordered

Court Sentencing and Council’s Warning

At Truro Crown Court on 13th February, Smith was sentenced to an immediate custodial term of 28 months.

Martyn Alvey, the Portfolio Holder responsible for Public Protection at Cornwall Council, said:

“Yet again we’re frustrated to see the upset and distress caused by the fraudulent actions of one individual. Whilst the loss agreed was £150,000, we know that the true cost of remedying the work has run into the tens of thousands for many of his customers.

“Cases like this seriously affect consumer confidence in the local building trade, but we hope that sentences like the one given today act as a significant deterrent and demonstrate just how seriously Cornwall’s Trading Standards Team and the courts take these matters.”

Photo: A bungalow renovation that was abandoned by Smith.