A builder who swindled dozens of customers out of about £1.25 million ($1.69 million) has been sentenced to 14 years in jail after a courtroom heard he used a few of the cash to fund his gambling habit.
Mark Killick, 56, from Paulton in England, who additionally glided by the title Marc Cole, was discovered responsible of 37 counts of fraud by false illustration following a 14-week trial at Bristol Crown Courtroom.
A rogue builder who defrauded dozens of shoppers out of roughly £1.25million has been jailed for 14 years.
Mark Killick was discovered responsible of 37 counts of fraud by false illustration after a 14-week trial at Bristol Crown Courtroom.
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— Avon and Somerset Police (@ASPolice) December 23, 2025
Working beneath the enterprise title TD Cole Ltd, Killick took massive upfront funds for constructing work that was by no means completed or, in lots of instances, by no means even began. The fraud happened between 2019 and 2021 and was investigated by Avon and Somerset Police alongside Bristol Metropolis Council’s Buying and selling Requirements group.
Builder carried out fraud to fund private spending and playing behavior
Jurors have been informed the size of the rip-off was just like successful the lottery. Prosecutors defined that Killick used cash from new clients to pay for earlier jobs, working what they described as a “Ponzi scheme.” He additionally did not pay suppliers and contractors and spent a few of the money on private bills, together with playing.
Throughout sentencing, a number of victims spoke concerning the severe monetary and emotional toll the fraud had taken on them.
One sufferer mentioned the lack of roughly £75,000 ($101,000) was “insufferable and is one thing that haunts me each day.” He mentioned he needed to lengthen his mortgage to pay for one more contractor to finish the unfinished work.
One other sufferer, who misplaced round £17,000 ($23,000), mentioned: “My husband was as a consequence of retire quickly as a consequence of some well being points, sadly as a result of prison actions of Killick he can now not do that.”
A number of victims mentioned they have been pressured to maneuver out of their houses as a result of unfinished constructing work left their properties unlivable.
One sufferer informed the courtroom: “The worst factor was that he simply saved telling us lies, making countless false guarantees, giving pretend excuses, and demanding more cash for himself. He knew, furthermore, in doing this, that he was endangering the well being and security of our kids. He knew that our broken flat roof on the rear was on the snapping point, and he knew it was above my son’s bed room the place he sleeps.”
One other mentioned: “We now not really feel as assured in ourselves, as we did. We each had accountable jobs earlier than we retired and thought we have been good at with the ability to decide individuals. After we found that Killick had already been convicted for comparable crimes, we realised we had been coping with a really intelligent, skilled, and competent prison… Our monetary loss means there may very well be much less safety for us in previous age and fewer to move on to youngsters and grandchildren. As we live on our pensions, we’re much less capable of make up for our monetary loss.”
An extra sufferer described residing for months and not using a functioning kitchen, saying: “I used to be residing with your complete contents of my kitchen in my lounge, holes within the partitions and ground and no cooking amenities for 4 months with no line of sight to when it might be performed, and it at all times been ‘subsequent week’… I had to make use of my tub and toilet sink for laundry up for weeks and weeks and your complete factor was simply extremely irritating and tense. Then discovering out I’d not have a kitchen rebuilt, and with all the cash gone, I used to be clearly distraught.”
Mark Killick ‘a grasp of deception’
Detective Constable Charlotte Suter, the officer within the case, mentioned within the press release: “Mark Killick defrauded dozens of his clients by taking enormous sums of cash from them whereas figuring out he wouldn’t be utilizing their cash to do the work he had promised them.
“The monetary impression of his crimes is evident with it being valued at about £1.25million. We’re searching for to recuperate what we will by way of the Proceeds of Crime Act.
“Constructing initiatives are tense instances, even once they go all to plan, so it’s arduous to adequately put into phrases what it’s been like for Killick’s victims.
“It has led to numerous sleepless nights for them, in addition to detrimental affected their well being and future plans. Whereas no sentence can undo the toll it’s brought on, we hope they will take some consolation in Killick’s jail sentence.”
The courtroom additionally heard that Killick had a historical past of comparable offences. Between 2008 and 2014, he was investigated and prosecuted twice for fraud linked to constructing work, together with convictions in 2008 beneath the title Killick and once more in 2014 beneath the title Mark Jenkins. He was additionally declared bankrupt within the 2000s.
In January 2019, he modified his title by deed ballot to Marc Cole and later arrange TD Cole Ltd. Prosecutors mentioned this made it a lot more durable for potential clients to uncover his previous when trying him up on-line.
DC Suter mentioned: “Mark Killick was a grasp of deception who talked the speak to persuade trusting individuals he was a legit.
“In truth he’s a serial fraudster who took individuals’s cash and lied to them time and time once more.”
Killick was sentenced to 14 years in jail. He can even face a 15-year ban from being an organization director and a five-year Critical Crime Prevention Order as soon as he’s launched.
Senior Investigating Officer DI Hadley Rides mentioned: “This result’s the end result of an exhaustive, multi-agency three-year investigation.
“We wish to thank our companions at Buying and selling Requirements for his or her continued help. I’d additionally prefer to commend DCs Charlotte Suter, Kelly Pinsker and Rachael Webb for his or her meticulous work.
“Over the course of the 5 month trial, our specialist fraud and monetary investigators navigated a posh net of banking data and alias names. Their dedication in tracing a number of financial institution transfers and debunking the defendant’s ‘sincere businessman’ narrative was instrumental in securing these 37 responsible verdicts.”
Featured picture: Avon and Somerset Police by way of press launch
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