‘Rogue Traders’ con man took own life after losing his home

A con man locksmith who was exposed on BBC’S Rogue Traders for charging locked-out residents rip-off prices, killed himself after being made homeless, an inquest heard.

Mark Makowski, 46, was found dead in a hotel room just weeks after being released from prison and having all his assets seized.

He appeared on Rogue Traders in 2002 and then Watchdog in 2005, before being sent to prison in 2010, having been convicted of fraud offences in connection with his locksmith business.

The inquest heard Makowski had to sell his house and most of his assets to repay his elderly and vulnerable victims.

But when he failed to pay £700,000 imposed under a Proceeds of Crime Act order, he was sent back to prison on Dec 8 2016.

Makowski was released on March 27 2017. He was found dead on April 12.

Geoffrey Sullivan, the coroner for Hertfordshire, ruled that Makowski had committed suicide.