Bankrupt Builder Sentenced for Fraudulent Home Improvement Schemes
A 72-year-old builder from Derby, Nigel Dinneen, has been sentenced to 12 months in prison for unlawfully obtaining over £400,000 from five victims for construction projects despite being declared bankrupt in July 2019. Dinneen failed to disclose his bankruptcy status when soliciting advance payments, leaving several families in dire living conditions.
Victims’ Plight
Dinneen’s first reported victim, a fire and security contracts manager from Leicester, entered into a contract with the builder during the summer of 2019. Without informing the victim of his bankruptcy status, Dinneen coaxed him into paying a £40,000 deposit for an extension. Soon after, the project stalled, and by Christmas 2019, the family’s living situation had deteriorated significantly.
“We have lost five years of being a family,” the victim lamented, noting that their children were forced to sleep on the floor amid construction debris. “We were secured at the rear of the property with a tarpaulin to keep the elements and the cold out.”
Dinneen’s Other Deceits
In total, Dinneen acquired £414,594 from his five victims under false pretenses. These included a healthcare worker who contracted Dinneen to demolish a garage and replace it with a two-storey extension in December 2019. This individual faced numerous challenges, such as dealing with construction issues while working on the frontlines of the Covid pandemic.
Another victim, who signed a contract in August 2019 for an extension and bathroom conversion, paid over £75,000 without knowing Dinneen’s financial troubles. The final victim, a woman from Market Bosworth, prepaid nearly £50,000 in December 2019 for a large rear extension.
Legal Consequences
Dinneen’s fraudulent actions extended beyond financial deception; he committed perjury by failing to disclose multiple bank accounts during his bankruptcy investigation. His deceitful practices ultimately led to a jail sentence when he appeared at Derby Crown Court on January 15.
David Snasdell, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, stated, “Nigel Dinneen ruined people’s lives, taking their savings and leaving some in what can only be described as unliveable conditions.” He emphasized the importance of bankruptcy regulations in protecting the public from similar fraudulent schemes.
Background
Bankruptcy laws in the UK are designed to safeguard the public and maintain fair business practices. Dinneen’s case highlights the critical need for vigilance when hiring contractors, especially for home improvement projects where significant sums of money are involved.
Source: official statements, news agencies, and public reports.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/rogue-builder-jailed-after-obtaining-more-than-400000-in-credit-from-five-victims-while-bankrupt
