A fraudulent builder from Harleston has admitted to swindling more than a dozen homeowners out of a combined £128,598.20 over a four-year period.
Paul Bagley, aged 42 and residing on Robin Avenue, entered his guilty plea at Ipswich Crown Court acknowledging that he operated a business for fraudulent purposes.
The 42-year-old took payments from 13 separate victims for building, plastering and landscaping projects between January 2021 and April 2025, none of which he ever finished.
Suffolk Trading Standards brought the prosecution, working in collaboration with the National Trading Standards Tri Regional Investigations Team following multiple consumer complaints.
Bagley will return to court on 31st July for sentencing.
The builder operated under multiple identities, presenting himself to customers as Bill Bagley and Billy Andrews.
His victims contracted him for various domestic projects including extensions, home renovations, plastering and landscaping work.
Initial deposits ranged from £180 to £8,000, with Bagley also collecting money for materials.
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Bagley will return to Ipswich Crown Court for sentencing
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His scheme typically involved proposing extra work beyond the original agreement, requesting further payments before ultimately walking away from the projects entirely.
Individual losses varied significantly, with some victims losing as little as £450 while others were defrauded of up to £36,050.
The court heard that in most instances, Bagley would convince customers to hand over increasingly larger amounts by suggesting additional improvements to their properties, leaving them substantially out of pocket when he failed to deliver.
Bagley deployed an extensive repertoire of justifications when questioned about incomplete work, citing poor weather conditions, broken-down vehicles, fuel shortages, unavailable labourers, personal illness and family health problems, as well as more serious claims involving deaths or even murders of relatives and acquaintances.
The builder operated under multiple identities
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The psychological toll on those he deceived has been severe. One victim, who wished to remain anonymous, stated: "I am a victim of fraud. That sentence makes me feel sick, angry, regretful, sad and makes me cry! Daily I think about the money, I wake up at night thinking about it, wishing I could turn back time."
Another said the experience had been "traumatising and distressing" and had caused "prolonged stress, anxiety and emotional strain" while damaging their capacity to trust others.
A third victim described being "deeply traumatised" by Bagley's actions, adding: "I no longer take any pleasure in my garden, which was previously a place I enjoyed and took pride in. Instead, it serves as a constant reminder of the experience. I was vulnerable and he knew that."
Graham Crisp, head of Suffolk Trading Standards, said: "Suffolk Trading Standards works tirelessly to seek justice for our residents and this case is a reminder that we will take strong action against rogue traders."
He urged homeowners to use the Suffolk Trusted Trader scheme, a vetted partnership programme where businesses commit to fair trading practices.
Anyone suspecting fraud can contact Suffolk Trading Standards confidentially through the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.