A “MENACE” cowboy builder has been jailed for intimidating 50 families into paying £650,000 – before destroying their homes.
Lawrence Martin, 36, targeted vulnerable customers including a woman having work done to help her dying father-in-law.
The unqualified roofer pressured clients across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight into handing over huge deposits, a court heard.
He would then declare more and more costly work needed to be done, never once finishing a job.
Martin, from Southampton, left his victims with wrecked homes and empty bank accounts – with one couple losing £110,000.
His work was so shoddy that many customers demanded a refund, only to be told “you’ve got more chance of winning the lottery“.
Many ended up forking up even more money to fix the damage Martin had done.
Some terrified customers even changed their locks to stop Martin returning.
Mark and Chrissie Bacon spent £44,000 on a garage conversion to house her terminally ill father-in-law.
But Martin did a bodge job after they hired him in the summer of 2021.
Chrissie, 52, had hoped to have her father-in-law at home for Christmas with them.
But following the bodge job he died without being able live out his final days with his family.
Chrissie said: “It was a very expensive and painful mistake, and this has been the worst time of our lives.
“During this time, Dad’s health deteriorated. We hassled Lawrence more and more to complete the house, but he would not do so.”
The couple spent their life savings and even had to remortgage their home – before forking out an extra £46,000 to repair Martin’s work.
Chrissie said: “We have lived here for 16 years, and this was meant to be our forever home.”
The cowboy builder has now been jailed for five years after admitting two counts of fraudulent trading and one of fraud.
Martin’s vulnerable clients included a widow, those with disabilities, and the family of a terminally ill man.
Prosecutor Ethu Crorie said: “He gave the impression that he was a successful and professional trader.
“Pressure was placed on customers to agree to the work quickly.
“Potential dates for starting the work were suggested but would only be available if a deposit was paid.
“Once the work started, frequently, he would identify further works and the costs would grow.
“Customers felt obliged to agree to these additional works for a number of reasons.
“Martin, in truth, was lying about what the money was going to be used for.”
When customers complained, Martin would blame delays on the imminent death of his mother.
He “took advantage of the consumers’ vulnerability” by threatening to walk off the job if they complained, the court heard.
Crorie said: “When he did refund people, it was, it seems, only with a view to having them remove negative reviews from various sites.”
The roofer’s work were so bad one homeowner’s brother stopped talking to him after he recommended Martin.
Sharon Netley and partner Paul Harris came off worst, losing out on £92,668 and spending £22,000 on remedial costs.
Martin told the couple that if they withdrew a complaint to Trading Standards then he would refund the £50,000 – which he never did.
His dealings with the couple took place while he was on bail, Southampton Crown Court heard.
Sharon said: “We were left in debt, we had to take loans from the bank, credit cards.”
Crorie said: “This defendant shouldn’t be doing any work of this kind at all.
“He is clearly absolutely incompetent. He is fundamentally dishonest.”
In a police interview, he admitted he had no formal roofing qualifications.
Martin also confessed he had never heard of the Competent Roofer Scheme.
His lawyer Jennifer Brenton said he felt remorse – and wanted to apologise to his victims.
Judge Peter Henry said: “He may be incompetent at building, but he is not incompetent at defrauding people.
“Serious, detrimental harm has been caused by you – your consumers have incurred considerable costs.
“Not just in terms of financial loss but in terms of health, anxiety and depression and work they have had to do to get their premises repaired properly.
“Your disgraceful conduct persisted over a very long time.
“You defrauded over 50 victims, you used bullying and aggressive behaviour to your customers.
“This included using a false identity in order to continue to perpetrate fraud.
“People like you are a thorough menace – not only giving the building industry a bad name but for causing victims devastating injury.”
“The impact of what you did on people is significant. Many of your customers were vulnerable.”
Martin was sentenced to five years in jail, of which he will serve half before being released on licence.
He was also made subject of a 10 year Criminal Behaviour Order, barring him from any kind of building or roofing work.
But Martin will be allowed to practise as an electrician upon his release.
