A builder from North East Somerset has been jailed for 14 years after defrauding dozens of customers out of sums exceeding £1.25 million.
Mark Killick, 49, was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court for his crimes while operating under the business name TD Cole.
The defendant, who lives in Paulton, conned 37 individuals by accepting substantial advance payments for construction projects which he subsequently abandoned.
Judge Macmillan delivered the sentence after hearing evidence of the extensive financial damage inflicted on the victims.
Killick’s fraudulent activities spanned a two-year period, during which he systematically took money from homeowners for building work that remained uncompleted.
Between 2019 and 2021, the defendant employed multiple false identities, presenting himself to clients as Marc Cole and Mark Jenkins whilst conducting business under the TD Cole trading name.
He secured contracts for construction projects across the region using these various aliases.
Victims typically handed over tens of thousands of pounds in advance payments, only to see their building work left incomplete or abandoned entirely.
Mark Killick was sentenced to 14 years
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AVON AND SOMERSET POLICE
The scale of the deception involved dozens of homeowners who had trusted Killick with significant sums for property improvements.
In delivering the sentence, Judge Macmillan described the harm inflicted upon victims as “serious and ongoing”.
The judge noted that Killick had left their properties in a “truly shocking” state, compounding the financial losses with physical damage to their homes.
This marks the fourth occasion that Killick has been convicted of fraud offences, with his criminal record for such crimes extending back to 2008.
The scale of the deception involved dozens of homeowners
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AVON AND SOMERSET POLICE
During the trial, the prosecution drew attention to his lavish expenditure.
Among the purchases highlighted was a Rolex watch valued at £25,000, which Killick attempted to justify as a business asset despite his company’s financial difficulties.
Authorities received a substantial volume of complaints about his activities during the relevant period.
More than 100 separate complaints were submitted to Avon and Somerset Police and Trading Standards regarding Killick’s conduct between 2019 and 2021.
Killick bought himself a Rolex while stealing thousands from his customers
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AVON AND SOMERSET POLICE
Originally from Neath in South Wales, the defendant had relocated to North East Somerset whilst continuing his pattern of fraudulent building work.
Following his conviction, Killick will face a Serious Crime Prevention Order extending five years beyond his release from custody.
The precise terms remain to be finalised, but the order is expected to require him to use the name Marc Cole consistently and prohibit him from earning income through construction activities.
Additionally, a 15-year ban from holding company directorships has been imposed.
Killick has submitted an application to the Court of Appeal seeking permission to challenge his conviction.
During court proceedings, he maintained he had operated honestly and denied any intention to defraud those who hired him.
He claimed his arrest in November 2021 prevented completion of outstanding projects.
Stephen Gledhill, a Bristol customer who fell victim to Killick’s schemes, reflected on the case: “Of course I’m angry, but I just feel sad for him [Killick] really that he’s behaved in that way without any kind of real indication that he cares.”