'Cowboy builder scammed us out of £440k over 15 years'

AT LEAST 30 people have accused a "cowboy builder" of conning them out of more than £440,000 for incomplete construction work over more than 15 years.

- Tom Campbell

The group, most of whom have asked to remain anonymous, say they were scammed by Devon-based Steven Gent, who operates under many company names.

He was reported to the authorities in 2009 and more than a dozen times since with the total fraud claimed to be £442,665.

Trading Standards confirmed Gent was under investigation after a "number of complaints".

Wendy Craig, 66, from Preston, South Devon, paid him £7,000 to renovate her garage in September 2021 but was left with a mess.

She then created a "name and shame" Facebook group and soon found dozens of people complaining about Gent.

Ms Craig said: "Mr Gent has left a trail of destroyed lives, homes that have lost value and desperate homeowners who do not know where to turn." She claimed he presents well and offers to start work immediately before demanding a deposit. Once work starts, Ms Craig found he requests further payments before suddenly breaking off communication and disappearing.