A woman in Stanmore aged 60, was left without kitchen, water, electricity or gas by a cowboy builder Harrow Council have revealed.
The builder took £97,000 from to create her ‘dream retirement home’, but sadly instead left her living in a house from hell. Gangandeep Singh was sentenced to 9 months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, after draining the 60 year-old of her life savings and leaving her confined to one room, with no kitchen, running water or heating through the winter of 2017, an investigation by Brent & Harrow Trading Standards Service led to the discovery.
Singh 34, director of Global Constuction Ltd, was also ordered to undertake 200 hours of unpaid work and his company fined £500. Singh had taken the initial payment and began work on the property but soon began demanding more money from the unsuspecting woman. He even told her to re-mortgage her house to be able to pay him. In total she paid Singh £97k and then spent another £60k to fix the house after he had botched the work.
Brent & Harrow Trading Standards were contacted by the victim from Stanmore when Singh demanded more money. He refused to continue working until she paid him what he asked.
Cllr Varsha Parmar, cabinet member for environment said: “This rogue trader’s behaviour wasn’t just unprofessional, it was criminal! He drained her of her life savings and left her to live in squalor – in her own home! Thanks to our officers, he’ll now have the threat of potential time in prison if he commits another crime. A genuine trader would not bully you out of money or leave work unfinished.”
Global Construction Ltd received a fine of £500 and a statutory charge of £50. Its owner Mr Singh was sentenced to 9 months’ imprisonment suspended for 12 months, 200 hours of unpaid work and a statutory charge of £140. Mr Singh was ordered to pay £5000 compensation to the victim. To report a rogue builder or for further help and advice, contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 04 05 06.
(Source: Harrow Council), (Image Credit: Google).
