We were conned out of £30k by cowboy builder – he left our homes full of rubble after coming up with ridiculous excuses

TWO families have opened up about how they were conned out of £30,000 by a cowboy builder who left their homes full of rubble.

The victims say they then had to listen to Drew Joyce’s ridiculous excuses on why he couldn’t make it to work each day.

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The 31-year-old was separately hired by Sian Frowen and Grannia Doherty to revamp their dream homes, but it quickly turned into a nightmare.

The court heard how the dad-of-four started asking for more money, claiming he had underpriced the jobs.

And, as a result, Joyce managed to get more than £30,000 total from the families.

Cardiff Crown Court heard how Joyce provided a quote to Sian of £28,000 for an attic conversion, a bathroom renovation and plastering.

Prosecutor Ian Ibrahim told the court how the work was set to be completed by February 2020, but the builder started making excuses early on.

Joyce claimed his car was not working and that he had sprained his ankle, before he asked for more money.

However, the now-31-year-old then damaged the wall of the neighboring home before finally collecting his tools to leave the job.

The court heard Sian transferred a total of £27,140 to him.

Reading a personal victim 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 I considered myself to have been an outgoing fun-loving person but since this has happened, I have become withdrawn and will find excuses not to socialise with others.”

The court also heard how other victims, Grannia and her husband, hired Joyce in November 2019, and they paid him £2,100 to do up their kitchen.

But when they complained he wasn’t showing up for work he claimed he had already completed his money’s worth for the job.

In her victim personal statement, Grannia said having the revamped kitchen was a “dream” of hers but described her and her husband’s “world literally falling apart”.

I believe that I am not the same person as all this upset has taken its toll on me.

Sian FrowenVictim

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.”

Joyce, of Bridgend, pleaded guilty to two counts of dishonestly making a false representation to make gain for self/another or cause loss to other/expose other to risk.

He also plead guilty to two counts of aiding/abetting dishonest failure to disclose information to make a gain for self/another/ cause/expose other to a loss, and two counts of engaging in commercial practice which is a misleading action containing false information.

The court heard he was of previous good character.

Defending Marian Lewis said he was “genuinely remorseful” for the effect on both of the victims and had gone out of business in 2021.

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

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk