A BUILDER who charged a woman £17,000 for home improvements he didn’t complete has been sentenced for fraud after an investigation by Slough trading standards.

Timothy Gokool, 35, director of Elite Home Services (EHS) Ltd, of Ferriby Court, Bracknell, admitted one count of fraud by false representation at Reading Crown Court on July 23.

Gokool was employed to do refurbishments at a property in the Elliman area of Slough between May 15 and August 7, 2013.

However, despite accepting £17,000 for the work, which included painting, decorating and the installation of a new kitchen and bathroom, Gokool did not do some jobs at all and what he did do fell far short of a professional standard.

The judge told Gokool that despite his reassurances he had turned the victim’s home into “little better than a bombsite” and sentenced him to 21 months in prison, suspended for 18 months.

Gokool was also ordered to do 200 hours unpaid work and pay £12,000 in compensation to the victim, plus £100 costs.

Andrew Clooney, trading standards manager for Slough Borough Council, said: “Gokool fobbed the victim off – there’s no two ways about it.

“He promised to do the work but didn’t turn up, he didn’t order materials and the work he did do was shoddy at best.

“He caused the victim an untold amount of distress and his custodial sentence reflects that.

“As the judge said, he escaped prison by the narrowest of margins.”

Councillor Sohail Munawar, commissioner for social and economic inclusion, with a responsibility for trading standards, said: “What happened to the victim in this case is every homeowner’s worst nightmare.

“I’m pleased Mr Gokool has been brought to justice and I hope the weighty sentence he received serves as a stark warning to other rogue traders.”

Gokool asked for 10 other breaches of consumer regulations to be taken into consideration during the sentencing.

The offences, committed against separate victims, related to failing to notify them of their right to cancel their contract with him.