Courtroom outburst of cowboy builder’s victim after rogue trader walked free over string of bungled jobs
Bankrupt builder branded 'vile' and 'disgusting' after leaving customers thousands of pounds out of pocket
A COWBOY builder who left his customers thousands of pounds out of pocket in unfinished homes was blasted from the public gallery when he avoided jail.
Ian Hadden has been branded “disgusting” by one of his victims who said he hoped the builder's life is "crushed” and feels “some of the pain, anger, and upset” he felt.
Hadden, 47, who lives with his parents, left his customers with family homes in disrepair and overcharged them by thousands.
When Judge Peter Armstrong indicated he would be making a compensation order for Hadden to pay £1,000 to six of his seven customers, one fuming victim slammed the decision from the public gallery.
Daniel Jackson's partner Samantha had borrowed £14,300 from her employer to pay for work that Hadden never completed.
After hearing the cowboy builder would not be jailed, Mr Jackson shouted: "What's the point of that?".
"We came here today to see justice. We would rather see him go to prison than pay £1,000."
During the outburst Hadden, who is now bankrupt, stood in the dock shaking his head.
Rosalind Scott Bell, prosecuting, told the court how one victim knew Hadden beforehand and paid £9,300 for a conservatory and French doors.
The work only cost £4,520 and so the customer was robbed of just under £5000.
Jamie and Zoe Hallam, form Saltburn, North Yorks, paid him roughly £10,000 for their loft to be converted into a bedroom for their son.
The work was never completed, Teesside Crown Court heard.
John Constable, defending, said the court often sees rogue traders but Hadden is "not that kind of rogue".
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He said: "He himself had his reputation trashed.
"He himself has lost his family. He himself has lost his good name."
He added Hadden was now bankrupt and worked for a building firm, and his boss there has said he is a "reliable worker".
Mr Constable told the court Hadden is now living at home with his parents in Bishop Auckland, County Durham.
Redcar couple Samantha Shilton and Daniel Jackson, who have five children, paid Hadden for a loft conversion back in September 2013.
Having paid Hadden £14,300 for work that has never been completed, the couple came to court to “see justice”.
Sam, 32, and Daniel, 36, later said they were “livid” to see Hadden spared jail and told to pay them just £1,000 back.
Sam said: “I feel like he has completely got away with it.
“We knew he was bankrupt so we didn’t think we’d get any money back but we thought he’d go to prison.
"He has to pay us all back at a total of £200 a month due to how much disposable income he had after earning £400 a week - but we don’t even have that much to spare.”
Teesside Crown Court heard victim impact statements from seven different families affected by Hadden’s trading under Hadden Loft Conversions and Joinery or Hadden Loft Conversions between 2013 and 2015.
Hadden was sentenced to nine months in prison for each of his 15 offences, to run concurrently, suspended for two years.
He was also ordered to pay £1,000 compensation each to six of his victims.
The seventh has already received their £500 deposit back.
Hadden had earlier pleaded guilty to all of his offences - nine knowingly/recklessly engaging in a commercial practice contravening unfair trading regulations, four engaging in a commercial practice which was a misleading action, and two engaging in a commercial practice with a Checkatrade logo or Trustatrade logo.