A cowboy builder who carried out unfinished and unsafe work in Swindon has been handed an eight-month suspended prison sentence.
Raj Kumar Bagga, 59, began work on a loft conversion, which a surveyor said could have "catastrophically collapsed".
The judge called Bagga "highly reckless" and said he caused his victims suffering and misery at his sentencing hearing and he was also banned from carrying out any building work for 10 years.
Bagga took money and left building work unfinished
The offences were committed by Bagga when he was trading under the name of R and L Building Solutions. He undertook work which was substandard and left incomplete after taking money in advance, leaving each of his victims grossly out of pocket.
In one home he undertook work for a house extension, renovation work, and a loft conversion that was central to the trial.
A surveyor’s report on the loft conversion concluded that the work was unsafe and that there was a real possibility the structure could "catastrophically collapse".
Cowboy builder left a trail of substandard work
Images released by the council show the shoddy states the attic was left in, in contravention of loft conversion building regulations.
In his sentencing remarks, His Honour Judge Townsend told the defendant he was not of good character. He added that he was a "cowboy builder" who was highly reckless and had caused his victims suffering and misery.
Councillor Jim Grant, Swindon Borough’s Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Joint Working, said: “This individual’s actions were reprehensible as he showed complete disregard for the trust his customers placed in him.
“They thought he was carrying out work to improve their homes, yet he destroyed their hopes and dreams leaving behind a trail of shoddy sub-standard work, often incomplete."
Builder given suspended prison sentence
Bagga admitted three charges under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations, which took place during 2022.
The eight-month prison sentence was suspended for 18 months and he was given 200 hours of community service, and 25 days of rehabilitation activity.
He was also handed a criminal behaviour order, prohibiting him from undertaking any building work in his own capacity, or any business operated by him, for 10 years.
