Cardiff Crown Court (Image: Wales Updates)
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A 45-year-old man from Barry has been sentenced to three years and four months in prison after admitting to running a fraudulent building business that left customers thousands of pounds out of pocket.
The sentence
Lee Brown, of Walnut Grove, Barry, pleaded guilty at Cardiff Crown Court to participating in a fraudulent business carried on by sole trade. The court heard he has a previous conviction for possessing a false instrument for use in fraud, as well as a caution for theft by employee.
How the fraud worked
Over a period of nearly four years, Brown operated as a sole trader offering building, landscaping and gardening services. He demanded large upfront payments from customers, claiming the money was needed for materials – but prosecutor Lee Reynolds told the court that no materials were ever purchased. When customers asked for receipts, Brown either ignored the requests or handed over receipts from unrelated jobs.
In total, Brown took £82,771 in deposits without carrying out the work he had promised.
He also falsely told customers he held liability insurance when he did not, and assured them they could change their minds because he would be able to resell any materials at a profit.
In 2023, Brown set up a limited company – LB & Sons Landscape Ltd – with his wife listed as the sole director, though the court heard it was Brown who was in charge of and controlled the business.
The victims
The customers worst affected were an elderly couple who handed over nearly £19,000. They were forced to delay their retirement after having to dip into their savings to put right the damage caused by Brown’s work.
On the rare occasions Brown did carry out any work, it was of a poor standard, leaving customers dealing with significant damp or leaks.
He turned aggressive when challenged over his failings, blaming customers for the problems. One elderly customer was threatened with police involvement if she posted a negative review about him online, and Brown sent her upsetting and offensive messages.
A “staggering” list of excuses
The court heard Brown gave customers an extraordinary range of reasons for failing to turn up or complete jobs. These included a dislocated shoulder, a fractured foot, a broken ankle, a bad back, illness, Covid, a viral infection, a car crash, family bereavements, family illness, his labourer going missing, the weather, materials not arriving – and his van exploding.
Despite claiming to be injured, customers discovered Brown had created a JustGiving page announcing plans to run 100 miles for a prostate cancer charity.
On another occasion, a mother and daughter who had been waiting for Brown to complete security work at their home spotted him working on a neighbouring building site. His response when he saw them was to laugh.
Offending continued on bail
Even after Brown had appeared in court and been placed on bail – and after his company had been placed into liquidation – he continued taking deposits from new customers using a false company name.
He also used the Trust a Veteran logo on his website without permission, trading on his background as an army veteran to win customers’ confidence. The charity later sent him a cease and desist letter.
Prosecutor Lee Reynolds said it was not believed any of the victims would recover their money. Brown has so far repaid around £2,000.
Mitigation
Defence barrister Peter Donnison told the court his client’s actions had “spiralled out of control” and that many of the excuses given to customers were “true events”. He said Brown had been dealing with bereavement, was suffering from alcohol addiction, and had been diagnosed with PTSD as a result of his experiences in the armed forces.
The judge’s remarks
Sentencing Brown, Judge Lucy Crowther said: “The range of excuses you provided to people was staggering and you appeared to have no shame… You remain a thoroughly dishonest man who traded on the service you gave to your country to facilitate your advantage.”
