A cowboy builder who left families £95,000 out of pocket and a disabled boy relying on volunteers to complete his dream extension is today behind bars.
Smooth-talking rogue trader Jonathan Ross Bell, also known as Black, took money from trusting customers but often failed to do the work.
One couple, Paula and Michael Cryan, gave Bell thousands to build an extension for their disabled 11-year-old son but he left the work unfinished and not up to scratch.
One couple left out of pocket by Jonathan Ross Bell were Paula and Michael Cryan,(pictured) who handed him thousands to build an extension for their disabled 11-year-old son but left the work unfinished and not up to scratch
After a story in the Newcastle Chronicle’s Mr Justice column about their struggles, the family, from Dudley, were approached by tradesmen who did the work for free.
A court heard the Cryans were just one family to fall victim to the dodgy trading practices of a series of companies run by Bell.
The ex-army man pleaded guilty to five offences of engaging in an unfair commercial practice, in breach of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations.
But North Tyneside Council, who prosecuted him, said that was just the tip of the iceberg and they have received more than 70 complaints.
Now the 45-year-old, of Cullercoats, North Tyneside, has been jailed for 18 months at Newcastle Crown Court.
Recorder Tony Hawks told him: ‘You were, in my judgement, taking money from members of the public and promising to carry out work for them when you knew, or must have known, there was no realistic prospect of that ever occurring.
‘You were making false representations, lies for want of a better word, about building regulations, about firms letting you down.
‘I’ve come to the conclusion you were quite a persuasive individual. I conclude it was your manner and your reassurances that made them continue to pay you.
After a story about their struggles, the family, from Dudley, North Tyneside, were approached by tradesmen who did the work for free
‘The people who have suffered at your hands are ordinary, decent people, some of whom say they chose to employ you because they wanted to employ what they thought were local, reputable firms.
‘Well, you let them down very badly. In some cases people have had their personal savings go down the drain.’
The court heard it was in September 2015 that Michael Cryan was given a leaflet in the name of Viking Home Improvements, one of the companies run by Bell.
The Cryans were considering building an extension for their disabled son, Taylor, who has a rare genetic disorder and learning disabilities.
Bell attended their home and quoted them £29,000 and requested a £2,000 deposit to pay for building regulations.
In total they paid £28,800, of which £6,000 was for bi-fold doors for the extension but the doors were never supplied.
Susan Hirst, prosecuting, said: ‘Mrs Cryan then became concerned that the building inspector had not been out to the site, so she raised this with the defendant and he replied that the inspector was due to attend the following week.
A court heard the Cryans were just one family to fall victim to the dodgy trading practices of a series of companies run by Bell
‘In fact that was a blatant lie because Mrs Cryan called the council and she was informed that no building regulations application had been made.’
When a council inspector came out they said there were a number of problems with the extension and that an application should be submitted to the council.
Miss Hirst said: ‘When Mrs Cryan reported this to the defendant he replied that he had no money left and was unable to finish the job.
‘Mrs Cryan asked for money to be returned to them given that the job was not complete.
‘Throughout November 2015 the defendant said to her that he would complete the job but he was waiting for more money to come through before he could do so.
‘In December there was correspondence between the parties, however he never returned to complete the building work and did not supply the doors which had been paid for.
‘Due to publicity the couple received in the local press, a group of volunteer builders very kindly offered to assist the family and they finished the extension for them.
‘If it had not been for their kindness, the overall cost to the couple would have been significantly higher than it actually was.’
The total loss to the Cryans was said to be £12,767, made up of the £6,000 for the doors and £6,767 for remedial work.
Another couple were left £42,170 out of pocket after asking another of Bell’s firms – Jenkinson Glaziers North East Ltd – to build an orangery extension and an extension above their garage with a view to caring for their elderly parents.
After agreeing to have the work done, but before it commenced, the firm had gone into liquidation with debts of £274,000 but Bell denied this when quizzed by the couple.
Miss Hirst said: ‘In total they paid the defendant £19,100 for building work for the orangery which was not completed.
The Cryans were considering building an extension for their disabled son, Taylor, who has a rare genetic disorder and learning disabilities. They are pictured with their youngest son, Riley
‘They paid £5,960 for the garage extension, which was never started.
‘They then had to pay £36,210 for another company to complete the orangery and they lost the £5,960 for the garage extension, which has not been done at all.’
Another couple entered into an agreement for Bell’s company to build an orangery, a guest room and to fit windows.
Miss Hirst said: ‘In total they paid £42,000 to the defendant but very little work had been carried out on the project.
‘The couple had to employ another builder to complete the work at a cost of £50,842.
‘The total loss to them is therefore £35,317 (£93,807 total paid minus £58,490, what it should have cost).’
The couple lost £1,750 after handing over a deposit for windows and doors to Jenkinsons Glaziers but when they changed their mind within 14 days Bell failed to refund them, as he was obliged to do.
And another man handed over £3,000 for roofing materials but they never arrived and he never got his money back.
The court heard Bell had previously received advice about his trading practices from North Tyneside Council in 2011 after a complaint but he has no previous convictions. Pictured: The Cryans’ unfinished extension
The court heard Bell had previously received advice about his trading practices from North Tyneside Council in 2011 after a complaint but he has no previous convictions.
A spokesman for North Tyneside Council said: ‘This builder caused misery for many of our residents, so we were determined to get justice for his victims and bring this case to court.
‘The sentence reflects the severity of the offences he committed and the impact on his victims.
‘We would urge anyone who believes they, or someone they know, has fallen victim to a fraudulent business to contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 03454 04 05 06.’
The council said Bell operated under various trading names including Jenkinson Glaziers, Viking Building Services, and Urban Homes from several addresses in North Tyneside including Monkseaton, Shiremoor and North Shields Fish Quay.
Bell has no connection with Jenkinson Glaziers & UPVC Ltd, which operates from Chapel Lane in Monkseaton.
His barrister told the court the father-of-two wanted to apologise for his behaviour and also tried to lay some of the blame on a salesman who worked for him for under-quoting work to get contracts.
Bell had been ‘robbing Peter to pay Paul’ and did not steal the £95,000 or benefit from it, but rather took it from people hoping things would improve, however he ended up losing his home and car and was in debt with no assets, the court heard.
His barrister said ‘negative publicity on social media and print media’ had thwarted his efforts to make the business work and he has recently been employed in Egypt.