A COUPLE left £52,000 out of pocket when their builder moved to Australia halfway through a job say they were left “heartbroken” by his actions.

Wayne Tredwell, 52, of Rayleigh Road, Benfleet, was acquitted of three counts of fraud by false representation at Basildon Crown Court last week.

He was accused of using headed notepaper from his brother’s firm, reputable Leigh-based WindowFix, to make the couple think the work was being carried out by the company when he was actually working for himself.

He said Stephen and Laura Bessant, of Cottesmore Gardens, Leigh, should have known it was an independent job because they paid nearly £20,000 into his bank account.

What was never in dispute is that Tredwell walked out and moved to Cairns in Australia following a separation from his partner in December 2014.

Laura, 40, said he did so leaving a “gaping hole” in the dining room- which her two-year-old son fell down- and a host of other structural problems.

She said: “It was dangerous- there was a gaping hole out the back where he had begun exploratory work, the plaster work had no insulation- everything had to be taken down.

“My son even fell in the hole, thankfully my husband was there to get him out.

“It took two years to put right and we had to move in with my parents. We had to borrow £20,000 from them plus another £35,000 to get it all fixed.”

Echo:

Tredwell fled to Australia on December 28, 2015, less than a month after starting the complex job.

Mrs Bessant said he left behind a pile of unpaid bills to plant hire and skip firms, as well as an electrician- all of whom turned up at her door demanding payment.

She said: “He texted us to say he was sorry but he was living in Australia. He said he’d spent all the money.”

The couple called Wayne’s brother Phil at WindowFix and he came to view the work. Laura said he offered a quote of £8,500 to complete it but they ultimately went with another firm.

Laura said: “I have absolutely no problem with Phil. He was helpful and he came round the next day.”

She added: “All we ever set out to do was highlight this case so no one else would have to go through what we did. This was our only goal. We have acted with dignity and fairness at all times.

“As angry and heartbroken as we were we could not have it on our conscience that Wayne Tredwell would do the same to another family – and this is why we went to the police after attempting to resolve it amicably.

“I’m not sure every family would have been so patient.”

Seek advice before doing deal

THIS type of dispute is more commonly seen in the civil, rather than criminal courts.

At issue was not the question of whether or not the builder had taken the money and walked off the job- which he admitted.

The Bessants tried to resolve the matter when he returned from Australia but eventually went to the police. They are now planning a civil action.

Mark Flewitt, Southend Council member for housing and planning said: “Building work can be costly and, if it is done badly, the costs of remedying the work can be financially devastating as well as extremely stressful.

“That’s why it is important to ensure that you appoint a competent and qualified trader. We advise anyone considering getting building work done to visit the Citizens Advice Bureau website at citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer for guidance.”