Yacht-owning builder left ‘medic’s home a death trap’
A MEDIC is suing a builder for £150,000 claiming he left his £1million home in a potentially deadly state.
Eye specialist Dr Robert Purbrick claims Mark Cruz botched a £240,000 extension at his house so badly the property was in a life-threatening condition, the High Court heard.
Dr Purbrick claims Mr Cruz, 46, did not stick to his architect’s plans, carried out work which breached building regulations and cut corners by doing wiring despite not being an electrician.
The doctor says Mr Cruz went on holiday to Mexico, where he has a yacht hire firm, in the middle of the project.
His home in Brighton was left with an electrical system “which carried the risk of electrocution”, the court heard.
Mr Cruz who owns UK property worth £1million, says Dr Purbrick prevented him from completing the job properly.
Dr Purbrick has obtained a long-term freezing order on £200,000 of Mr Cruz’s assets, saying he suspects the builder is trying to emigrate to Mexico.
Mr Justice Julian Knowles said Dr Purbrick and his wife Eleanor agreed to pay Mr Cruz just over £74,000 cash and a bank transfer of nearly £165,000.
But Dr Purbrick said in December 2018, three months into the project, Mr Cruz “misinterpreted” the plans, demanded more money, misinstalled underfloor heating and did electrical work when not qualified.
An electrical report later said the wiring had live parts exposed which posed “a threat to life” and a surveyor’s report cited “numerous breaches of the
Builder Mark Cruz, above, is being sued by the doctor. Right, one of the yachts he owns
building regulations defective works”.
Mr Cruz claimed Dr Purbrick closed the site before his work could be finished properly.
The judge said Dr Purbrick later stated on social media that Mr Cruz had “seriously ripped us off and put our money into [his] Mexican venture”. In another and other
Dr Purbrick and material left at Brighton home
post Dr Purbrick wrote: “The owners of this company [Mr Cruz’s yacht hire business] are cowboy builders in the UK...”
The judge extended the asset freezing order and added Mr Cruz’s company, MM Cruz Developments, as a defendant.
The case will return to court at a later date.