A prosecution brought by Norfolk County Council Trading Standards has resulted in a 33-month jail sentence for a rogue builder.
Kyle Muir carried out substandard work at several properties across the county, leaving his victims with unfinished installations and potentially dangerous hazards in their homes, including sagging roofs, exposed live electrical cables and improperly installed gas pipes.
During what Norwich Crown Court heard described as a “campaign of cowboy building and rogue trading” Muir amassed £130,000 from his victims. These included nurse Vicky Mileham, who was charged almost £80,000 by Diamond Standard Renovations, the company run by Muir and his co-defendant Reece Lloyd.
Mileham was left without water or electricity at her home near Great Yarmouth between Christmas 2019 and Easter 2020 while the work was carried out. She was charged for the installation of a new fitted kitchen which turned out to have been bought second-hand on Facebook, while a new boiler flue was found to be dangerously installed when a professional plumber subsequently inspected it.
Another victim was charged £26,000 for a kitchen and bathroom installation which were left unfinished and with numerous flaws.
Muir had previously pleaded guilty to seven fraud offences relating to work carried out across Norfolk under the guise of three different companies between October 2019 and June 2021. Lloyd had pleaded guilty to one offence under Unfair Trading Regulations.
Despite warnings from Trading Standards Officers, Muir had continued to offend, leaving his victims with bills for undelivered items and unfinished work.
Lloyd received a nine-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, and was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.
A proceeds of crime order is now being sought to recover money for the rogue traders’ victims.
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