Building work conman left victims feeling 'ashamed'

A conman has been jailed for fraud offences that saw him take a total of more than £65,000 from five people for building work that was not completed.

Carl Mould, 59, appearing under the name Nicholas Hampshire, was sentenced to three years and 10 months in prison on Monday.

He had previously admitted five counts of fraud by false representation between June 2021 and December 2022.

The court heard Mould's methods involved requesting more money by telling customers he needed to buy more materials or that the work was more complicated than first thought.

The court heard three of the five victims of fraud paid thousands to other builders to finish work left incomplete by Mould.

A victim impact statement was read out by Judge Nirmal Shant KC.

"I am devastated both emotionally and financially," it said. "I do not believe [Mould] had any intention of completing the work."

"This ordeal has left me embarrassed and ashamed."

Judge Shant added that other victims expressed similar feelings but told Mould: "They should not feel embarrassed, it is you that should feel embarrassed."

She said the number of companies and pseudonyms used by Mould showed there was "significant planning" behind his offences.

The defence said Mould's apology and guilty pleas showed "some evidence of remorse".

Judge Shant said an apology "does not even begin to cover it", but gave credit for the pleas.

"You used every method you could to deceive hard-working people," she added.

A criminal behaviour order was imposed, which prohibits Mould from doing any building work for payment at any UK properties for 10 years.

Mould also admitted two driving offences from 2023 when he was stopped by police in the Radford area of Nottingham and routine checks revealed he was driving while disqualified and without insurance.

The court heard Mould had "extensive" previous convictions, including "multiple" offences on his driving record.

In 2023, Mould, of Basford Road, West Bridgford, was handed a 20-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, for harassment after he threatened to have a friend shot or beaten up.

A restraining order was imposed as part of this sentence, which he breached in February 2024.

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