Builder jailed for defrauding families out of £380,000

Summarised from Leicestershire Live's report · Updated 4 Nov, 18:02 · Archive

A builder has been jailed for more than six years after defrauding ten victims out of nearly £380,000 through shoddy building work.

Colin Ridley, 72, trading as Truewood Builders, has been jailed for more than six years after defrauding ten victims out of nearly £380,000. Operating between 2019 and 2023, Ridley took large sums of money for building projects from householders across Desford, Glenfield, Leicester, Blaby and Derby, according to Leicestershire County Council.

Victims reported repeated excuses for his lengthy absences from sites and demands for additional payments beyond agreed quotations. Ridley's defective work included inadequate foundations, uneven floors, poor brickwork, faulty roofing and substandard joinery, with some work raising serious health and safety concerns. Two properties required major demolition and complete reconstruction. He also pressured victims into withdrawing cash to pay him and accepted money intended for materials and subcontractors which he failed to pass on, leaving homeowners facing further demands and stalled work.

His Honour Judge Raynor branded Ridley 'an archetypal, dodgy cowboy builder' and 'a thoroughly dishonest, deceitful and morally corrupt man'. The judge said Ridley's offending was 'sustained and cynical' and that his work 'compromised the health and safety of the occupants of these houses due to your incredibly poor workmanship'.

Builder jailed for defrauding families out of £380,000 — Image: Leicestershire Live

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'Morally corrupt cowboy builder’ jailed after defrauding families across East Midlands out of £380kHouseholders across Desford, Glenfield, Leicester, Blaby and Derby lodged complaintsLeicestershire Live · 4 Nov, 15:53

In this story: Colin Ridley · Leicestershire County Council · Desford · Glenfield · Leicester · Blaby · Derby

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