Lawrence Martin, dubbed as one of Britain’s most untrustworthy builders, defrauded over 50 homeowners of nearly £650,000 and is now required to repay a mere sum of £108.
Termed a ‘serious threat,’ Lawrence Martin exploited vulnerable customers by pressuring them to pay substantial deposits to kickstart projects, only to later escalate costs by claiming additional work was necessary.
Among his victims was a woman seeking assistance for her terminally ill relative, illustrating the callousness of his actions.
One distressed couple suffered losses exceeding £110,000 due to his deceitful scheme, leaving numerous individuals devastated with ruined properties and depleted finances as their life savings were siphoned off during an extensive period of deception.
Martin, lacking official roofing credentials, persistently demanded more money without ever completing any projects, callously informing a client that it was easier to win the lottery than to secure a refund.
Over five years, the father of four left a trail of distraught customers across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, with some compelled to change locks to prevent his return, having been left in tears by the substandard work he carried out.
The subpar quality of his work led many to terminate the projects, demand restitution, and hire professionals at additional substantial costs to rectify the damage inflicted by Martin.
Following his guilty plea to two counts of fraudulent trading and one of fraud, Martin received a five-year prison sentence for his reprehensible behavior at Southampton Crown Court, Hants.
Now, during a confiscation hearing at the same court, Martin was instructed to reimburse a mere £108.96, while his company was ordered to pay £1.
At the hearing, prosecutor Ethu Crorie disclosed that only £108.96 was retrievable, as both of Martin’s accounts were set to be closed by the bank.
Martin has a 56-day deadline to make the payment, failure of which will result in an additional 14 days of imprisonment.
One victim, Judith Kipling, fell victim to Martin’s scam, losing £32,500 from her and her husband’s life savings after entrusting him to construct a wet room in their Southampton residence.
Expressing her disbelief after Martin’s asset seizure hearing, Mrs. Kipling termed it as a grave injustice, with little hope of ever recovering their losses from him.
Mrs. Kipling remarked, ‘The judicial outcome is deeply disappointing. Martin’s insidious behavior will likely persist upon his release. The court’s response is baffling and fails to acknowledge the gravity of the situation.’
During his sentencing earlier in the year, Mr. Crorie conveyed that Martin’s fraudulent activities were conducted during two distinct periods: firstly as the sole director of CLJ Roofing, based in Eastleigh, and subsequently through his personal bank account, spanning from January 2018 to October 2022.
His victims included widows, individuals with disabilities, and the family of a terminally ill person.
Upon receiving complaints, Martin resorted to various excuses, citing his mother’s impending demise, supplier issues, labor problems, and vehicle complications.
The beneficiaries either received unfinished work or substandard quality that necessitated additional remedial expenditures.
Judge Peter Henry, addressing Martin, highlighted the substantial impact on the victims, not limited to financial losses but also encompassing health issues, anxiety, depression, and the considerable effort required to rectify the structural damage caused.
The judge denounced Martin’s deceitful conduct, emphasizing the severe harm inflicted upon over 50 victims. Martin resorted to bullying tactics and aggressive behaviors, even assuming false identities to perpetrate fraud after CLJ ceased operations.
Judge Henry concluded, ‘Individuals like you pose a significant threat, tarnishing the reputation of the construction industry and causing immense harm to victims.’
Martin was further subjected to a 10-year Criminal Behaviour Order, prohibiting him from engaging in any building or roofing activities. However, he will be permitted to work as an electrician upon his release.
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