A cowboy builder who left a £44,000 home extension in a dangerously unfinished state has been ordered to pay £85,000 in compensation to the homeowners.
The case followed a prolonged dispute in which the couple were arrested after tensions escalated during the breakdown of the project.
A court heard the work left the property without key essentials, including a functioning kitchen, safe structure and proper weatherproofing.
Article continues belowWhat happened in the extension dispute
Steve Figg, of Figg Construction Ltd, carried out work on a rear extension at the Davies family home in Langdon Hills, Essex, after being hired to create a kitchen and open-plan living space.
The couple told Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court that the project, which began in 2023, quickly deteriorated into what they described as “chaos”, with the home left exposed and unsafe.
The court heard the build was stopped by Basildon Council building control after concerns were raised about compliance with regulations. A council surveyor found issues including unstable foundations and ineffective insulation, with the work described in court as “unsafe, badly executed and repeatedly non-compliant with building regulations”.
District judge Christopher Williams said the work left the property at risk, describing the situation as one of serious failure to meet basic construction standards.
Arrests during the dispute and breakdown in relations
As the dispute escalated, Essex Police were called after allegations were made during a breakdown in relations between the parties.
The couple were arrested and held in police cells for around 22 hours after the builder, who had already taken £44,000 of their money, claimed they were "harassing" him over the project. They were later released with an apology from police officers.
Lucy Davies told the court the experience had left the family overwhelmed by the situation, saying their lives were “overshadowed by complete horror, despair and chaos”. She also described the impact of the failed project, saying: “Your home is your safe space and to have this ripped apart with no timeline of when you can have it back is mental torture.”
Court reports confirmed the arrests formed part of a wider breakdown in communication during the dispute rather than the construction findings themselves.
Court ruling and compensation order
Steve Figg admitted 22 breaches of building regulations and was handed a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to wear an electronic tag for six months.
Figg told the court he regretted the situation but denied acting dishonestly, saying he was not a “cowboy builder” and that the project had become financially unviable.
Figg told the court he regretted what happened, saying: “I’m not a liar, I’m not a conman. I made mistakes and I am sorry.”
Judge Christopher Williams criticised the standard of work in strong terms, adding: “This is the situation you read about in the news and think, ‘How can somebody be so incompetent?’”
In addition, the court ordered him to pay £85,000 in compensation to the homeowners, reflecting both the £44,000 initial contract value and the estimated £28,000 cost of making the property safe and habitable again.
