ROGUE builder Mark Killick has been jailed for 14 years after duping customers out of more than £1 million.
The 56-year-old, from Paulton, Somerset, promised customers his company – TD Cole Ltd – would be about to carry out building work for them, but after taking large sums of money, either never turned up, or left work unfinished.
During the trial, the jury was told that the scale of Killick’s fraud was the equivalent of a ‘lottery win’, earning him around £1.25m. between 2019 and 2021, before a joint investigation by Avon and Somerset Police and Bristol City Council’s Trading Standards team.
Killick told some customers they needed to pay their bills ‘urgently’, but the court was told he was running a ‘ponzi scheme’ and effectively using that money to fund the work for customers who had paid him months before for jobs he had not completed.
He was also accused of failing to pay suppliers and contractors, increasing the company’s liabilities.
Other money was used to fund his own personal expenditure, including gambling.
During his sentencing on Monday (December 22), customers who fell victim to Killick’s deception explained the devastating impact of his crimes, with some preparing personal statements for the court.
One victim said the loss of approximately £75,000 was ‘unbearable and is something that haunts me every day’.
He said he had to extend his mortgage to fund someone else completing work left unfinished by TD Cole Ltd.
One woman, defrauded out of around £17,000, said: “My husband was due to retire soon due to some health issues, unfortunately due to the criminal actions of Killick he can no longer do this.”
Others had to move out of their homes for several months because the incomplete work had left their properties inhabitable.
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After Killick was jailed, DC Charlotte Suter, officer in the case, said: “Mark Killick defrauded dozens of his customers by taking huge sums of money from them while knowing he would not be using their money to do the work he had promised them.
“The financial impact of his crimes is clear with it being valued at about £1.25 million. We are seeking to recover what we can via the Proceeds of Crime Act.
“Building projects are stressful times, even when they go all to plan, so it’s hard to adequately put into words what it’s been like for Killick’s victims.
“It has led to countless sleepless nights for them, as well as detrimental affected their health and future plans. While no sentence can undo the toll it’s caused, we hope they can take some comfort in Killick’s prison sentence.”
Between 2008 and 2014 Killick was investigated and prosecuted twice for fraud offences relating to failing to complete building work after asking for deposits.
In 2008, he was convicted under the name Killick and in 2014 under the name Mark Jenkins, which was his grandfather’s name.
In the 2000s he was also declared bankrupt.
In January 2019, Killick changed his name by deed poll to Marc Cole and the following month created TD Cole Ltd. He told the jury this name change was for family reasons, but it meant when customers searched his name they did not find previous press coverage of his previous convictions.
DC Suter added: “Mark Killick was a master of deception who talked the talk to convince trusting people he was a legitimate.
“In fact he is a serial fraudster who took people’s money and lied to them time and time again.”
Upon his release, Killick will be subject to a 15-year disqualification order, which prohibits him from being the director of a company.
He also received a Serious Crime Prevention Order for five years, which will apply a number of restricts on Killick after he has served his prison term.
Speaking after the sentencing, Senior Investigating Officer DI Hadley Rides, said: “This result is the culmination of an exhaustive, multi-agency three-year investigation.
“We would like to thank our partners at Trading Standards for their continued support. I would also like to commend DCs Charlotte Suter, Kelly Pinsker and Rachael Webb for their meticulous work.
“Over the course of the five month trial, our specialist fraud and financial investigators navigated a complex web of banking records and alias names. Their dedication in tracing multiple bank transfers and debunking the defendant’s ‘honest businessman’ narrative was instrumental in securing those 37 guilty verdicts.”
READ MORE: Rogue trader Mark Killick – of TD Cole Ltd – convicted of fraud
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