A fraudulent builder has been jailed after several customers across Berkshire, Oxfordshire, and Wiltshire were left out-of-pocket with homes that are unfinished.

Following an investigation into several complaints, Michael Corcoran, of Stainswick Lane in Swindon, was sentenced to four years and three months.

The offender pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing at Reading Crown Court to three offenses of fraudulent trading where he promised unrealistic pricing and timetabling for his work.

During work carried out between October 2015 and January 2019 within several home renovations, Corcoran left customers in severe emotional and financial distress after asking for significant sums of money.

Commenting on the case Cllr Lee Dillon, Chairman of the Joint Public Protection Committee, said: “It is unacceptable for traders to act in this way and is detrimental to the overwhelming majority of our local businesses which are trustworthy. 

"I hope this case sends out the message that our dedicated officers will act against those that try to take advantage of our residents.”

At the investigation stage, officers from the Council’s Public Protection Partnership (PPP) Investigation Team, alongside the National Trading Standards Tri-Regional Investigation Team discovered that one victim was forced into early retirement in order to fix his home.

This was after Mr Corcoran asked for £80,000 over the fixed price and eventually left the job unfinished.

Another victim employed the accused to build them their dream retirement home. They have now been left with a house in need of constant repair and no funds to escape it.

She has said that the incident has severely affected her husband's mental health and left her confidence shaken. 

Ian Wright, Operations Manager, NTS Tri-Regional Investigation Team, said:

“Taking large sums of money from honest consumers before attempting to ramp up costs by threatening to leave work unfinished is thoroughly dishonest and against the law.

“This complex joint investigation is a great example of collaboration and partnership working between our regional team and local authority Trading Standards services, and the sentence sends a clear message that we will work tirelessly to bring fraudulent builders to justice.

“If you, or someone you know has fallen victim to a fraud like this, you should report it to the Citizens Advice consumer service helpline by calling 0808 223 1133.”