A so-called 'cowboy builder' has been sent to prison after defrauding a family of nearly £100,000 for a home extension that left their property in a dangerous, unfinished state.
A Dream Extension Turns Into a Nightmare
Andy Clarke, 46, and his wife Lisa, 43, from Chesterfield, Derbyshire, paid builder Michael Parr £98,000 to add a fifth bedroom and bathroom to their home in 2019. The ambitious project required constructing an extra floor and replacing the roof. The couple, who were starting a family, had carefully vetted Parr, viewing his previous work and testimonials before agreeing a price of £106,900 and re-mortgaging their home to fund it.
Work began in April 2019 with a promised completion date of August. Initially, progress seemed normal. However, Parr and his team began showing up less frequently, offering a string of excuses including bankrupt suppliers and bad weather, before vanishing entirely in July, leaving the house covered in scaffolding, open to the elements, and far from finished.
Devastating Financial and Personal Toll
The couple were left in an impossible situation. A chartered surveyor later found only about 30% of the work had been completed, with half of that needing redoing due to poor standards. Forced to hire another firm, the Clarkes had to find a further £150,000 to complete the project, taking out more equity, loans, and using credit cards and work bonuses.
The emotional cost was even higher. The couple believe the immense stress of the situation contributed to a miscarriage suffered by Lisa, a teacher, while their home was in disarray. "The stress throughout was horrendous - and it was thought to be one of the triggers," Andy Clarke stated.
A Broken System and Long-Awaited Justice
After Parr disappeared, Andy reported the matter to the police. Investigations revealed the Clarkes were not his only victims; he was also charged with defrauding another individual in Northamptonshire of over £35,000. Parr pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud by false representation and was sentenced to two years and eight months at Nottingham Crown Court on October 3.
Despite winning a High Court case against Parr, the Clarkes have recovered no money, as bailiffs could not locate assets. They also faced a dead end with their bank, which refused to treat the payments as fraud. "The system is broken," said Andy. "We remain £100,000 out of pocket and that is unlikely to ever return. Some justice has been done but it's far from full, restorative justice."
A proceeds of crime hearing is scheduled for January 16, 2024. The Clarkes, who finally saw their home completed in August 2022, hope the prison sentence will serve as a deterrent to other would-be scammers.
