A COWBOY builder charged thousands of pounds for work he failed to carry to out at homes in the North East.

Lee Saunders charged his victims more than £3,500 for work that was not done.

The Middlesbrough man was handed a suspended sentence after he was found guilty of fraud by Teesside Magistrates’ Court.

Saunders had said he would buy artificial turf, four glass units for windows and a set of French doors to be installed at a home in Acklam.

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Trading as GHL Building & Joinery, he was hired in 2018 but the only work he completed was to remove the existing grass, and he then failed to repay the remaining money for work left undone.

The case was first brought to court in 2020 when Saunders, of Wilstrop Green, Middlesbrough was found guilty in his absence, with the court issuing a warrant for his arrest.

When police caught up with him last month (February), he was detained at Holme House Prison and brought before Teesside Magistrates for sentencing. 

At Monday's (March 14) hearing, the 35-year-old was given a 16-week prison sentence suspended for 18 months for two offences of fraud by false representation.

He was also ordered to pay £2,680 compensation following the investigation by Middlesbrough Council trading standards.

Saunders also admitted three drug offences and was given a 12-month community order with supervision for drug rehabilitation.

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Councillor David Coupe, Middlesbrough Council's executive member with responsibility for adult social care and public protection, said: "The sentence given to Lee Saunders highlights that the courts take offences of obtaining money through fraudulent actions very seriously.

"The case also shows how the council's trading standards team will not hesitate to bring perpetrators of fraud and others who cause financial loss to Middlesbrough residents to task.  

"I am pleased that Saunders did not ultimately gain by his action and has to repay what he took from the Acklam residents as well as being handed a suspended custodial sentence."

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