A rogue builder has been slammed with a suspended sentence after fleecing a woman out of £17,000 and leaving her home with a "gaping hole".

Gary Roberts, aged 60, deceptively entered into a deal with an unwary homeowner in May 2021 to erect an extension at the back of her house, only for magistrates to learn that his firm was already teetering on the brink of collapse.

The victim, who initially handed over a £10,000 deposit and subsequently another £7,000 just weeks later, was left with an unfinished project and her funds in Roberts' pocket after he abruptly abandoned the site; all the while knowing full well his company, GR Developments 1 Ltd, was sinking financially.

Residing at Old Spot Way, Winsford, Cheshire, the deceptive tradesman failed to complete the commissioned work, faithfully dipping into the savings of his client without delivering on his half of the bargain.

He now faces the music, having been mandated by the court to refund his victim in excess of £10,000, and he's dodged immediate jail time, receiving a six-month custodial term, albeit suspended for two-years.

David Snasdell of the Insolvency Service expressed his deep disdain, remarking: "Gary Roberts left his victim in a state of utter desperation after wrecking her home." Snasdell also noted, "He never should have even signed a contract with her, as he knew his company was in financial trouble."

The commitment of the Insolvency Service to shield the public from unprincipled swindlers like Roberts is paramount, he underscored. Chester Magistrates' Court heard how the underhanded builder convinced the homeowner she'd need to pay around £17,000 for new windows and an extension at the rear - a promise he would never fulfil.

A rogue trader left a homeowner's property in disarray, walking off the job site after tearing down part of her house, only to line his own pockets with over £11,000 while his company was insolvent. CI Snasdell revealed the extent of the damage: "The back of the victim's house was completely exposed to the elements, having been knocked down from the kitchen."

He added, "Roberts and his company also left a huge mess in her garden, with debris and rubble everywhere."

The fraudster, who had paid himself thousands despite his company's financial woes, saw his firm dissolved early this year.

For his actions, Roberts faced justice on Monday 31 March, receiving a sentence for fraud under the Insolvency Act 1986, a decade-long ban as a company director, and orders for community rehabilitation, costs, and a surcharge. Despite the setback, the victim managed to complete her home extension by April 2022 with the help of other tradesmen.

CI Snasdell emphasised the commitment to investigating such fraudulent acts, stating: "Fraudulent behaviour which causes clear financial harm to innocent people will be thoroughly investigated by the agency."