A heartbroken couple lost more than £30,000 to a rogue builder who left their new extension unfinished, with water pouring into their home.
Alarms bells had been raised earlier when Shelley Sawkins, 75, called the tradesman, and realised he was in Lanzarote, spending money she had given him.
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.
In a Proceeds of Crime Act, external hearing earlier this month, Mold Crown Court heard he had benefitted to the tune of £163,051.70 from his offending, but his assets available to pay back amounted to just £1.
Williams had been posting photos on Facebook of holidays and days out at the races, while one of his victims, a dad of three, had to finish his two-storey extension himself.
Shelley and husband Barry, 63, spent £50,000 in total getting the botched job at their bungalow in Buckley, Flintshire, fixed – almost £30,000 more than the initial quote of £21,000.
About £30,000 went to Williams, and £20,000 to other builders fixing the mess he had left.
But there are still major problems, including uneven flooring, and they are now desperate to move out of their once-beloved home and into 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 work from Williams – trading as Chris Williams Construction – would make their lives easier, providing a spacious kitchen area.
But instead, it ruined their happy lifestyle, Shelley added.
The first sign the job was not up to scratch was when one of the walls started to wobble when pushed.
Then one night, after the roof had been worked on, rainwater began pouring into the house.
Shelley had been caring for her husband – who has Alzheimer’s disease, external – and added: “I was up in the middle of the night collecting water in buckets while trying to look after my husband.
“I didn’t have enough buckets.
“I was in tears. I was constantly in tears. It was a nightmare.”