Couple trusted builder with nearly £60,000 for home extension

A fraudster who agreed to build a couple's house extension took just under £60,000 from them but failed to complete the job, a court heard.

Leeds Crown Court heard the couple trusted Kieran Holdsworth due to a family connection but he took their money for materials and work that was not done.

Prosecutor, Oliver Conner, said Holdsworth entered into an agreement with the couple in 2020 to compete the extension at the their home in Wakefield.

Mr Conner said they made six payments to him between November 2020 and May 2021 after Holdsworth gave them invoices detailing money spent on labour, materials and other services connected to the project.

The court heard Holdswsorth, a qualified gas engineer, obtained a total of £59,785.41 from the couple.

Mr Conner said: "He continued repeated requests for money and began to apply increased pressure blaming the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic."

The court heard Holdsworth, 39, claimed he had lost bricklayers due to the pandemic and to get new contractors the victims needed to pay or the delay would be more than a year.

Mr Conner said: "When it became apparent the work was not progressing as expected they wrote to the defendant to express dissatisfaction."

The extension was built up to the damp proof course but the court heard it was of poor quality and was recommended to be removed and started again.

Mr Conner said Holdsworth's two bank accounts were analysed and payments had been transferred from his business account to his personal account.

He used the couple's money for credit card repayments, cash withdrawals and other personal spending.

Mr Conner said: "When it became apparent the defendant was no longer turning up to the site he largely ignored attempts to contact him.

"He told the victims the money had gone and they weren't getting any of it back."

The court heard Holdsworth's fraud affected his victims financially and emotionally with the damage lasting for years.

Mitigating, Holly Clegg said: "There was no intention from the start to defraud. He took on a job for family and he wasn't able to cope with that job at the time.

"He was going through a separation from his then partner."

She added: "He has pleaded guilty. He takes full responsibility. He is extremely remorseful."

Miss Clegg said an estimated £11,000 worth of work had been done on site.

The court heard £43,000 has been paid back to the couple.

Holdsworth, of Manor Farm, Drive, Leeds, admitted fraud by false representation.

Judge Neil Clark jailed Holdsworth for three years.