Builder stole 'equivalent of lottery win', jury told

A builder has gone on trial accused of defrauding 46 customers in the West Country out of more than £2m after failing to complete work at their homes.

Mark Killick, of Shoe Lane in Paulton, Somerset, allegedly charged his customers for building materials and labour after agreeing to complete work, but kept the money for himself.

The 55-year-old, also known as Mark Cole, is accused of 46 counts of fraud and one count of money laundering between December 2019 and November 2021.

Mr Killick denies all the charges and his trial at Bristol Crown Court is expected to last 12 weeks.

A jury of eight men and four women were told by the prosecution that Mr Killick "lied" to his victims and stole "the equivalent of a lottery win" from them collectively.

James Tucker, prosecuting, said the "overlapping" cases of a similar nature show Mr Killick was "acting dishonestly with purpose and not just a reckless contractor falling behind".

He gave examples of three people - who will later give evidence at the trial - who all paid deposits after agreeing plans with Mr Killick before he made a "slow and inefficient" start to all the jobs, leaving their homes in jeopardy before he disappeared and failed to complete the work.

Mr Killick was interviewed by police in November 2021, following numerous reports about his work.

He told officers his business had been "good" and he had "many happy customers" before it was liquidated that same month.

Mr Killick told police his business ran into difficulties because of the Covid-19 pandemic, an investor who backed out and an online campaign against him, the prosecution told the court.

Mr Tucker said: "Our case is that he did not bother to do what he should have done because it was not necessary for him to secure payment from customers and that was his sole objective.

"Whether you are highly able as a builder or a businessman, you can choose to be honest or dishonest.

"It wasn't because of Covid, or an investor pulling out, or a campaign against him which meant that while honest he could not fulfil his obligations.

"He made a choice to be dishonest over and over again."

The trial continues.

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