£140,000 court payout hope for victims of rogue builder

Darryl Glynn, 46, was jailed for four-and-a-half years in February last year after admitting 21 offences of theft and fraud following a major investigation by North Yorkshire County Council trading standards officers.

York Crown Court yesterday ordered Glynn to repay the six-figure sum within the next six months or face an additional two years and three months in prison.

His victims will be compensated from any cash paid back by Glynn as a result of the order imposed under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

The council’s head of fraud and financial investigations, Ruth Andrews, said: “I am very pleased that Mr Glynn has admitted in court to having hidden assets.

“This gives us the best opportunity available to secure compensation for the victims, many of whom lost thousands of pounds to his scams.

“We will continue with our financial investigation and attempt to locate his assets, to ensure they receive their compensation as soon as possible.

“Offenders who think it is acceptable to target our residents in this way should take this case as a warning. It is not acceptable and we will not tolerate it.”

An investigation was launched in February 2008 into Glynn’s businesses, Selby Builders.co.uk Ltd and Acorn Construction and Roofing Services, following complaints.

After securing contracts with customers, Glynn demanded large amounts of cash for materials in advance before failing to carry out the work. The work he did carry out had to be later rectified by householders, and it was deemed to range from incompetent to “positively dangerous” by an expert appointed by trading standards officers.

One victim originally agreed to £17,500 for roofing work, but handed over £21,000 to Glynn following his demands. The botched work led to more than £30,000 water damage being caused to the house’s interior.

Meanwhile, thousands of pounds of cash linked to drug dealing has been seized by detectives from North Yorkshire Police’s financial investigation unit.

Magistrates sitting in Northallerton yesterday signed off a forfeiture order for £14,000 which was confiscated under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Four men from West Yorkshire were interviewed after police searched an Audi S3 car on the A19 at Dishforth early on December 16.

While no charges were ever brought, police were able to seize the cash after establishing strong links to the drugs trade.

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