Rogue builder left homes in ruins after taking thousands
A BUILDER took tens of thousands of pounds from his customers, promising them prompt and high quality work, and then left their homes in ruins.
Robert Hayel left a doctor fearing her home would collapse when cracks appeared in the walls, and never returned to a pregnant woman’s house after ripping out the boiler.
Cardiff Crown Court heard he sent a message to one couple promising: “I will never rip you off.”
Carl Harrison, prosecuting, said the charges related to the period between January 2014 and March 2016 and involved eight victims in Bridgend, Cardiff, Newport and Penarth.
The defendant was initially trading as Hayel Construction and then H&D Builders. The court heard he gave a false history of the business and a false reference to one customer.
Mr Harrison said the defendant’s claims to complete high quality building work on time and within budget “could not be further from the truth”.
The court heard he asked for payments and started the work promptly to gain the customers’ confidence. Then the work would slow down and “grind to a halt”.
One doctor was left concerned her home might collapse as cracks appeared in the walls, but Hayel insisted he could “patch it up”.
The court heard he ripped out the boiler in a pregnant woman’s home, then stopped answering her calls. She told him she needed the work to be finished as soon as possible.
Mr Harrison said: “He walked off site with no good reason, leaving the work he agreed to do in a mess.”
One couple paid him for an extension, so elderly parents could move in with them. The work was delayed and the victim’s mother died and father had to go into a nursing home.
The defendant kept “badgering” them for money. Hayel sent them a message saying: “I will never rip you off. I know it’s a lot of trust from you guys but I will never let you down.”
A building surveyor said it was “easily the worst workmanship” he had ever seen.
The court heard the couple had planned to retire to spend more time with their grandchildren, but had to keep working due to his “greed and selfishness”.
Prosecutors said when Hayel was challenged, he made fake excuses like having to dissolve his company because customers were not paying.
Mr Harrison said: “He would move on to his next victim and start the cycle all over again.”
He added: “All the customers were left out of pocket. The defendant did not pay a penny back to any of his victims.”
The court heard some of his victims were left in debt and some were not able to spend Christmas at home, as their properties were left in such a mess.
Hayel, 46, from Marguerites Way in St Fagans, admitted two counts of participating in a fraudulent business.
Christopher Rees, defending, stressed his client had no relevant previous convictions and asked for credit for his guilty pleas.
He pointed out Hayel was first interviewed in December 2016 and the offences were more than four years old. The court heard he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following his time in the Royal Welch Fusiliers and his wife is unwell.
Judge Richard Twomlow sentenced him on the basis the total loss caused was around £100,000.
Hayel was sent to prison for two years and three months.
Councillor Michael Michael, Cabinet Member responsible for Shared Regulatory Services said: “Given the fact that Mr Hayel didn’t bother to turn up to his court appearance last Friday, I am pleased the sentencing has proceeded today and the victims in this case have seen him being sent directly to prison.
“This has been a case that we have been investigating for some time, but I can assure Mr Hayel that our officers will be keeping a very close eye on him when he is released on licence.”