Fake Builders Jailed Over £800k Home Improvement Scam
Three men behind a £800,000 home improvement con have been jailed following a nasty fraud that duped dozens across the Home Counties. The ringleader, Brian Tutton, 62, has been sentenced to seven years behind bars and banned from being a company director for ten years. Scott Baker, 50, got four years and a five-year director ban. Meanwhile, David Gogo, 30, received a suspended 14-month sentence plus 160 hours of unpaid work.
How the Scheme Worked
Tutton and his gang ran a fake firm called Contemporary Home Improvements. Using a virtual office in London, they posed as legit builders, even advertising as “rated contractors.” They took deposits from over 60 victims for building work that was never planned or started.
To make the scam believable, Tutton made a deal with Louise Shiankwang, 50, who allowed her kitchen extension in Sussex to be used as a “show home” to lure in potential clients. Victims toured her house, thinking it was proof of solid workmanship. But not a single brick was ever laid.
Con Artist Roles Revealed
- Brian Tutton: Mastermind and company frontman, setting the fake background and managing public image.
- Scott Baker: Salesman who met victims and collected deposits.
- David Gogo: Posed as a qualified architect, brandishing fake RIBA cards to convince clients.
- Louise Shiankwang: Used her home as a fraudulent showroom, pleaded guilty, sentencing pending.
Investigation and Reaction
A joint probe by the Metropolitan Police and Camden Trading Standards launched in 2018 followed 60+ complaints and witness statements. The Crown Prosecution Service charged all four with conspiracy to defraud. The trial was delayed due to Covid but finally wrapped in late 2021.
“People are often embarrassed when they find they have been duped by a fraudster, but these defendants worked hard to appear reputable,” said Detective Inspector Matt Wigg. “This was a callous, calculated scheme to steal from the public under false pretences.”
National Trading Standards Director Wendy Martin added: “These deceitful fraudsters concealed their con behind a glossy facade, tricking trusting homeowners out of large sums. Today’s sentencing shows criminals will be caught and prosecuted.”
The case is a stark warning to homeowners to stay alert and verify builders properly — or risk losing their hard-earned cash to crooks.
