A Derby-based builder has been sentenced to more than two years in prison after defrauding homeowners out of over £200,000 through incomplete and substandard construction work. Michael Haslam, 74, was convicted of fraudulent trading for his activities between 2020 and 2022 involving seven separate clients.

Haslam operated under the business name M&J Builders Ltd and continued to trade despite a High Court order in late 2022 mandating the company’s liquidation. Customers reported paying significant sums upfront but were left with unfinished projects, hazardous structures, and in some cases, no running water. One family paid nearly £48,000 in 2022 before Haslam abruptly ceased work, leaving them with costly repairs.

Testimony during the proceedings revealed that Haslam’s workforce sometimes lacked basic equipment, resorting to borrowing tools from clients. Judge Shaun Smith, presiding at Derby Crown Court, remarked that Haslam exploited families’ trust in a bid to keep his business afloat. Haslam pleaded guilty to fraudulent trading charges.

The court handed Haslam a prison term of two years and four months and imposed a 15-year ban on him operating any business. He reportedly has no funds available to reimburse the victims of his fraudulent activities. The case highlights ongoing concerns about rogue builders and the vulnerability of homeowners to financial harm from dishonest tradespeople.