Cowboy builder who swindled £30,000 out of his clients to carry out ‘dream’ renovation

A cowboy builder who swindled customers out of over £30,000 and left their homes filled with piles of rubble has been spared jail.

Drew Joyce, 31, was hired by two people to renovate their properties – before failing to turn up to complete the works and then asking for more money, claiming he had underpriced the jobs.

The Bridgend labourer fobbed off the customers – both women – with excuses, claiming his car was not working, and even told one they had gotten their money’s worth despite leaving the job unfinished.

One of his victims said hiring him had been ‘one of the biggest mistakes of my life’, while the other said she had suffered immense mental distress because of his actions.

Cardiff Crown Court heard that Sian Frowen and Grannia Doherty commissioned Joyce to carry out work in around four years ago.

Prosecutor Ian Ibrahim said: ‘In both cases the prosecution say the defendant provided attractive quotes to secure work and when deposits were paid work slowed down, and in the case of Sian Frowen, he asked for further money.

‘He then said he was unavailable to work. The estimated loss came to £31,219.’

The court heard Ms Frowen was provided a quote of £28,000, which was agreed, and she paid £600 for beams.

The work was to include an attic conversion, a bathroom renovation and plastering to be completed by February 2020.

But Mr Ibrahim said Joyce began making excuses shortly after starting the work by claiming his car was not working and he had sprained his ankle.

He then asked for more money before damaging the wall of a neighbouring property and finally collected his tools to leave the job. 

The court heard the total amount transferred to him by Ms Frowen came to £27,140.

In a victim personal statement, she said: ‘I have, over the last several years, been what can only be described as a physical and mental wreck continually breaking down and crying, having panic attacks with palpitations, which I believe are because of what Drew Joyce has put me through.

‘I believe that I am not the same person as all this upset has taken its toll on me. I considered myself to have been an outgoing fun-loving person but since this has happened, I have become withdrawn and will find excuses not to socialise with others.

‘I have lost my self-esteem and feel a failure as a mother as I have not been able to properly provide for our six-year-old daughter during her formative years.’

Ms Frowen said she has suffered extreme emotional stress and anxiety and has lost her life savings.

She added: ‘I wish I had never employed the services of Drew Joyce.

‘This was one of the biggest mistakes of my life and I’m still struggling to cope with the consequences of this decision to this day. 

‘I hope no one else suffers like I have because of his total incompetence.’

The court heard Joyce also targeted Grannia Doherty and her husband in November 2019 after they paid him £2,100 to renovate their kitchen.

They complained when he stopped turning up for work – and he claimed they had already had their money’s worth before he left the job.

In her victim personal statement, Mrs Doherty said having a kitchen/diner was a ‘dream’ of hers but described her and her husband’s ‘world literally falling apart’.

She added: ‘I get anxious, tearful, angry and ashamed when I even think back to this period in our lives.

‘But most of all, I am bewildered by how someone can think that it is OK to undertake work that was of such a poor standard.

‘Then to have what should have been a two week job turn into a running joke of disorder and disarray, where he didn’t turn up for work, or turn up for an hour or so at a time.

‘Not once did he work a full day and we were just continuously palmed off with a constant load of excuses and half-truths. Anyone could see that the quality of the work so far carried out didn’t even reach sub-standard.

‘I can’t comment on my husband’s feelings at this time as he kept his rage subdued and to himself, though I know that he felt conned by Drew Joyce, and deceived, having been taken in by his patter, as the man had come recommended to us.’

The victims reported Joyce to Trading Standards at Bridgend Council before he was arrested.

Joyce, of Bridgend, pleaded guilty to two counts of dishonestly making false representations, two counts of aiding and abetting dishonesty and two counts of misleading commercial practice.

The court heard he was of previous good character and Marian Lewis, defending, said he was ‘genuinely remorseful’ for the effect on both of the victims and had gone out of business in 2021.

Judge Shoman Khan said: ‘You have a huge responsibility as a trade, you don’t make promises you can’t keep and leave houses like this, in a mess and disarray. You have a responsibility to those who employ you.’

Joyce was sentenced to nine months imprisonment, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to carry out 200 hours unpaid work.