BRITAIN’S worst cowboy builder fleeced customers out of more than £1.25million then splurged the cash on luxury holidays.
Mark Killick left homeowners with half-finished jobs after demanding large sums of money upfront for building costs.
Mark Killick left building jobs half-finished while demanding cashCredit: SWNS
He ripped punters off to the tune of £1.25millionCredit: SWNS
Killick is now facing jail for fraudCredit: SWNS
The 56-year-old then used the stolen money to pay off his debts and travel the world in luxury.
Killick also splurged on high-end goods – including a £25,000 Rolex Submariner watch.
His crimes finally caught up with him when more than 100 complaints were made to .
Killick has now been found guilty of 37 counts of fraud totalling approximately £1,270,000.
Bristol Crown heard the builder’s company, TD Cole Ltd, began work for some of customers who would then see no progress for weeks or months at a time – despite already spending tens of thousands of pounds.
But his victims were left in a weak bargaining position because their house had been turned into a building site and they were left waiting for Killick to return calls and messages to explain when work would re-start.
They would then pay Killick for work when he stressed to customers they needed to pay their bills “urgently”.
He effectively ran a “ponzi scheme” as he used money from those punters to pay off previous customers who complained.
Other customers paid Killick and TD Cole for work that was never even started.
The fraudster carried out the scam at properties across the West of England between June 2020 and November 2021.
He was previously convicted of fraud in 2008 but punters were unaware of the company’s history when they contacted him.
The scammer flew under the radar by changing his name and the name of his company.
Martyn Nicklin, from Bristol Trading Standards, said Killick offered people their “dream extension” or renovation, which he started but often left “completely unfinished”.
He continued: “I think he is still one of the most prolific rogue traders that we’ve ever dealt with, if not the most prolific.
“Certainly the scale, the number of victims, the financial impact; the harm that he’s caused is vast.”
Tips to stay safe from rogue traders
- Be patient – good tradespeople typically have waiting lists of at least six months. Be wary of any builder who can start quickly or says they have just had a cancellation.
- Get genuine recommendations from people you know and trust. Don’t post messages on social media asking for a builder or tradesperson – rogue traders are known to use these platforms.
- Obtain three independent quotes making sure the quotes are detailed and give firm prices not estimates.
- Agree on start and expected completion dates and set up a payment plan. Never pay large deposits upfront.
- Don’t rely on guarantees offered by trader approval sites. These are often limited to small amounts and won’t cover the cost of putting things right if the works go wrong.
- Understand the requirements around planning and building regulations.
- Make sure you get everything in writing.
A detailed checklist is available here: Finding a builder checklist.pdf
To report a rogue trader, contact the Trading Standards Service via the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133.
Killick eventually liquidated TD Cole Ltd at the start of November 2021 but was still taking money from customers just days before.
Footage released by police showed the moment he was finally arrested for his spree.
Killick will now be sentenced on December 22.
Detective Sergeant Louise Sinclair said: “Mark Killick sold his customers a housing redevelopment dream.
“He left them with a nightmare and thousands of pounds out of pocket.
“It was fraud on an eye-watering scale.
“The change of name prevented any of Killick’s customers who researched his credentials from seeing the media reports of his previous fraud convictions.
“He is a serial fraudster.”
Killick would demand cash upfront then never finish the jobCredit: SWNS
His customers felt forced into handing over the money to complete the workCredit: SWNS
Killick defrauded 37 victimsCredit: SWNS
Footage showed the moment his crimes finally caught up with himCredit: SWNS 
