Crooked builderwho intimidatedclients jailed

Darryl Glynn, of Carr Street, in Selby, made his victims pay for work he either failed to carry out or did so badly they were left facing bills of tens of thousands of pounds to put it right.

The 45-year-old was “aggressive” and “abusive” to customers, leaving them locked in a “vicious cycle” and feeling they had no choice but to pay him, Yorks Crown Court heard.

He dishonestly obtained a total of 54,990 and attempted to obtain a further 23,750.

Glynn pleaded guilty to 21 offences of dishonesty relating to seven customers, and in sentencing him to prison and disqualifying him from trading as a company director for 10 years, Judge Peter Hunt told him yesterday: “You were a persistent, determined criminal. You treated customers with contempt and by intimidating them when they thought they were dealing with a professional.”

The judge added: “I’m thinking not just of the financial toll it has taken on them, very considerable though that is, I think of all the anxiety, distress and downright worry they’ve been caused by your conduct.”

He continued: “Your approach to the contracts that came your way was such that you were putting the victims in a desperate vicious cycle from which they found it virtually impossible to escape.”

The judge added: “Your approach to the complaints was to adopt an intimidating, sometimes downright aggressive and abusive reaction to them, whereupon they felt coerced into making more and more payments.”

After he was sentenced, Glynn pretended to try to escape from the dock, before shouting “Goodnight and God bless” as he was taken to the cells.

Earlier, proceedings had to be halted briefly after he accused one of his customers of causing damage to their own property.

Prosecutor Kate Dodds told the court Glynn had admitted six counts of obtaining money by deception and 15 offences of fraud.

Ms Dodds said: “He was not only an incompetent builder but thoroughly dishonest.”

The barrister told the court one victim Peter Craven was left with his house “effectively collapsing around him” after roofing work.

The householder paid him 20,000 but was then left having to pay more than 30,000 to repair the damage caused.

Another, Christopher Marks, of Kippax, in Leeds, had to pay 34,000 to rectify the damage Glynn caused while building a two-storey extension. Mr Marks was scammed out of 9,000 by the builder and had to move into alternative accommodation.

A surveyor who inspected work carried out to an extension on Anne Clarkson’s house in Sherburn-in-Elmet, North Yorkshire, said it ranged from “incompetent to positively dangerous”.

Mrs Clarkson lost 6,000 to Glynn’s deception and faced abusive and aggressive behaviour from the builder, who took back items when she made a complaint to police.

Glynn repeatedly lied to William Wareham, of Hambleton, North Yorkshire, about work on his garage extension and patio, lost his temper and threatened him. Mr Wareham was conned out of 7,800.

Glynn also became angry and intimidating when Steven Porritt, of York, complained about his roofing work. Mr Porritt, who lost 2,400 to Glynn, suffered damage to his property as a result of the builder’s work.

Ms Dodds told the court Glynn also obtained 9,790 by deception from Malcolm Hill, of Eggborough, North Yorks, and tried to con John Keely, of Osbaldwick, York, out of 6,000 but he had refused to pay the bill.

Speaking afterwards Mr Keely, 73, a retired teacher, said: “He has brought his trade into disrepute and got what he deserved. I believe I am one of the more fortunate ones as I realised he was up to no good and sacked him while others lost considerable sums of money.”

Councillor Clare Wood, executive member for North Yorkshire County Council’s trading standards and planning services, said: “Offenders need to be absolutely clear that rogue trading of this nature will not be tolerated in North Yorkshire.”