One of the United Kingdom's most notorious rogue builders has been handed a 14-year prison sentence for a brazen fraud operation that swindled dozens of customers out of more than £1.25 million.
A Trail of Deception and False Promises
Mark Killick, 56, from Paulton in Somerset, operated under the alias Marc Cole to deceive homeowners. His elaborate scheme, described in court as a 'Ponzi scheme', involved taking substantial upfront payments for building work that was either shoddily executed, left incomplete, or never started at all.
The scale of his dishonesty was staggering. Prosecutors detailed how Killick would pressure clients for urgent payments to supposedly secure materials, only to use that money to fund a lavish lifestyle of world travel and gambling, or to pay off earlier victims. The total value of work he failed to complete for his 37 confirmed victims reached approximately £1,270,000.
Among the most audacious excuses he gave for not finishing a job was a claim that he had 'Covid-19 in his foot'. His company, TD Cole Ltd, would often begin a project, turning a family home into a building site, before vanishing for weeks or months, leaving victims in a desperate and vulnerable position.
Justice Served at Bristol Crown Court
Killick's reign of deception finally unravelled after he amassed over 100 complaints. He was subsequently charged with 46 offences of fraud by false representation, committed between 2019 and 2021. Following a trial at Bristol Crown Court, a jury found him guilty on 37 counts.
Sentencing him, Judge Moira Macmillan stated he had caused serious harm and left homes in a 'truly shocking' state. She told him his crimes were worth the equivalent of a 'lottery win'. In addition to his 14-year jail term, Killick was made subject to a Serious Crime Prevention Order and a 15-year ban from acting as a company director.
Detective Sergeant Louise Sinclair, speaking after the case, said: 'Mark Killick sold his customers a housing redevelopment dream. He left them with a nightmare and thousands of pounds out of pocket.' She confirmed he was a serial fraudster who changed his name to hide previous convictions for similar building deposit frauds in 2008 and 2014.
The Devastating Impact on Victims
The human cost of Killick's fraud was profound. Victim Stephen Gledhill from Bristol paid £18,000 in advance for a new kitchen that never materialised. He expressed his shock at the builder's capacity for deceit, stating: 'I just feel really shocked that he could go through with something like that, telling multiple lies to so many people.'
Police described the offending as 'fraud on an eye-watering scale'. The court heard how victims, with their homes torn apart, were left in a weak position, endlessly waiting for return calls and updates that never came. Other customers paid for work that was never even commenced.
This case serves as a stark warning to homeowners to thoroughly vet tradespeople. Authorities emphasise checking credentials, seeking multiple references, and being wary of demands for large upfront cash payments.
