Cowboy builder who scammed 50 homeowners out of £650,000 is jailed
A cowboy builder scammed nearly £650,000 out of victims including a widow, disabled people and the family of a terminally ill man.
Lawrence Martin, 36, pressured clients into paying him tens of thousands of pounds in deposits despite having no roofing qualifications.
The Southampton man’s fraud left people with wrecked homes, empty bank accounts, and cleared-out life savings over a period of nearly five years. One couple lost more than £110,000.
Some of his 50 victims in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight were left in tears and forced to change their locks to stop him from returning.
Martin blamed the imminent death of his mother, and problems with suppliers, workers, other consumers, and vehicles when customers complained.
He told one customer ‘you got more chance of winning the lottery’ than getting a refund of £8,500.
Prosecutor Ethu Crorie described Martin as ‘fundamentally dishonest’, telling Southampton Crown Court: ‘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 including the fact that the work had already been started and the fact that Martin would state that the work was being done at a discount because he was already on site.’
Dad-of-four Martin was jailed for five years after admitting two counts of fraudulent trading and one of fraud, committed while sole director of Eastleigh-based firm CLJ roofing and when he continued with his own personal bank account, between January 2018 and October 2022.
He was also made subject of a 10-year Criminal Behaviour Order, barring him from any kind of building/roofing work. He will, however, be allowed to practise as an electrician, for which he is qualified, upon his release.
Addressing the defendant, Judge Peter Henry said: ‘People like you are a thorough menace – not only giving the building industry a bad name but for causing victims devastating injury.’
He said: ‘He may be incompetent at building, but he is not incompetent at defrauding people.
‘There was serious harm caused as evidenced by their victim’s personal statements.
‘The impact upon those has been substantial, 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.
‘Serious, detrimental harm has been caused by you – your consumers have incurred considerable costs.
‘Your disgraceful conduct persisted over a very long time.’
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