Builder sentenced after taking £10k and failing to complete work

Following an investigation by Gloucestershire County Council’s Trading Standards Service, Kurtis Jelf, aged 36, of Knowles Road, Newent, pleaded guilty to a charge under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations at Gloucester Crown Court on 22 July 2025.

Jelf was ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work within 18 months and told to make a compensation payment of £5,000 to the victim, to be paid within 12 months. He was also disqualified from being a director of any limited company for 15 years.

He traded under the name Gloucester Construction Ltd and was reported to Trading Standards after a consumer paid £10,000 in advance for materials, so he could start work on a garage conversion quickly.

Jelf only delivered a small amount of what was required and then gave numerous excuses for not turning up to complete the work. Despite pleas for him to return and complete the work or deliver the rest of the materials which had been paid for, Jelf failed to complete the work, refund any money or provide the materials.

Cllr Paul Hodgkinson, cabinet member for trading standards at Gloucestershire County Council, said: “No one should be left out of pocket or misled when dealing with a trader and we take these matters very seriously. The outcome in this case shows that traders who act dishonestly will be held to account by our trading standards team.

“We would advise you to always seek a range of quotes and check reviews before engaging with a trader. Be clear about what money is being spent on and agree phased payments so you can be clear about what is being paid for and when. We urge residents to use trusted sources and to reach out for advice if they’re unsure.”

If you need advice regarding a problem with a trader or to report any concerns, please call 0808 223 1133 to speak to the Citizens Advice consumer service.

If you can't hear or speak on the phone, you can use Relay UK to type what you want to say: 18001 then 0808 223 1133.

Further advice and support is available for both traders and consumers on the Gloucestershire Trading Standards website - www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/trading-standards

Trading Standards have their own national trader approval scheme called Buy with Confidence - see www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk for more information.