A couple was forced to live on a construction site for months after their builder knocked down tools with more than £ 50,000 of their money in his pocket.
The devastated 35-year-old Carmel and 42-year-old Gareth Ponsford paid the original £ 30,000 to builder Carl Harrison Mills to do work on their house, including separate bedrooms for their three children.
It is shocking that the builder abandoned the work in the middle of work in August 2021, after asking for more money for the work and completely stopped all contact with the couple.
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They have since been sentenced by the district court against Mr Mills for a final total of £ 53,263.95, which he owes them after the builder failed to defend the case. The couple and their children, two of whom have autism, are now left to live on a construction site for almost a year and are forced to sue the builder for unfinished work.
Parish Council official Carmel, who lives with engineering manager Garrett and their children in Stroud, said: “We are devastated. We work so hard and everything seemed futile.
“We just wanted a bedroom and a safe space for the children, because they all need it. There are many children with additional needs and this affects the rest of the family, not to mention the parents. Kids just need somewhere, it’s their own.
The condition of the house in Ponsford.
“It was quite difficult. We try to count our blessings, but on some days it is difficult if we have had a bad night with our son or work.”
Parents Carmel and Garrett had set up home to pay for the work after asking for separate bedrooms for their children, and two were about to start the GCSE in September. After Mills stopped coming to work and answering their calls, the couple turned to Gloucestershire Police, who said their situation was a civil matter and they could not intervene at this stage.
They then appealed against him. Carmel added: “We just don’t want anyone else to be deceived by this person.
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“If we can stop only one person from being in this situation, then that’s why we did it. We are trying to make our family’s life better and he ruined it.
“It is unlikely that we will ever see our money again, but let’s hope that no one else will suffer from this person.
Mr Mills has not yet responded to requests for comment.
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