Couple arrested after botched extension 'horror'

A builder who ruined a couple's home after being paid £44,000 to carry out an extension - and later had them arrested - has been ordered to compensate them £85,000.

Steve Figg, 35, left Rob and Lucy Davies' home in Langdon Hills, in Basildon, Essex, at risk of collapse in December 2023.

Lucy Davies, 38, told Chelmsford Magistrates' Court their lives were "overshadowed by complete horror, despair and chaos" as their dream project fell apart.

Figg, of Milton Road, Stanford-le-Hope, admitted 22 breaches of building rules and was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years.

District judge Christopher Williams described the work as "unsafe, badly executed and repeatedly non-compliant with building regulations".

Having seen Figg's work advertised on social media, the Davies hired him to build a rear extension with a kitchen and open-plan living area.

But the couple's dream project was left in tatters as Figg left them with no kitchen, running water or back doors, leaving rats free to nest in the property, "terrorising" their three children.

"Your home is your safe space and to have this ripped apart with no timeline of when you can have it back is mental torture," Davies told the court.

The work was stopped by Basildon Council's building control team two months after it started in October 2023.

In total, the couple had to spend £28,000 making the property secure again.

Figg, who ran Figg Construction Ltd, ignored repeated orders from the council to stop the work, but told the couple he had planning permission.

A council surveyor found, among many issues, the house's foundations were left unstable and the insulation was "ineffective".

Peter Cruickshank, prosecuting, said: "He [Figg] not only downed tools and walked away, but he got the police involved."

Essex Police arrested the couple after dad-of-two Figg reported they were "harassing" him over the work, the court heard.

He also told officers he wanted to kill the couple, but was not arrested.

The force, which later apologised to Mr and Mrs Davies, held them in separate cells for 22 hours overnight.

Davies told the judge: "We had our mobile phones seized, were put on bail for six months and treated like criminals - at a time when we were living in horror."

Representing himself, Figg said he regretted what happened, adding: "I'm not a liar, I'm not a conman. I made mistakes and I am sorry."

He said the project was running at a loss and there was no money left, but denied being a "cowboy builder".

However, sentencing him, district judge Christopher Williams said: "Is there really any other description of the situation?

"This is the situation you read about in the news and think, 'How can somebody be so incompetent?'"

Figg was also ordered to wear an electronically monitored tag for six months.

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