A Norfolk builder has been imprisoned for more than four years after stealing over £200,000 from residents across the county following building and home-improvement work that was never done.
James Morgan, trading as Prestige Home Improvement (East Anglia) Limited between 2021-2024, pleaded guilty in September 2024 to 10 theft offences and is now also disqualified from being a company director for 10 years and subject to an indefinite criminal behaviour order.
Victims included a Dereham couple who paid £179,996 for an extension that never materialised, and others across Diss, Great Yarmouth, Wymondham, Long Stratton, and Norwich who paid thousands in advance for unfinished work.
Norfolk County Council Trading Standards Team have launched confiscation proceedings to try to recover compensation for victims and investigation costs.
The council is urging residents to use its Trusted Trader scheme, obtain written quotes and avoid large upfront deposits when hiring a tradesperson.
Cabinet Member for Communities and Partnerships at Norfolk County Council, Cllr Margaret Dewsbury, said: ‘Householders should be able to trust that when they hand over money for work, it will be completed. Builders should provide written details of the planned work and payment schedule and should not ask for substantial deposits upfront.
‘We would ask residents to check out reviews and recommendations before employing a tradesperson and our Trusted Trader scheme provides peace of mind that a person carrying out work is reputable and reliable.’
